1
as in restrictions
something that limits one's freedom of action or choice
a time-honored tradition is fine as long as it doesn't become a fetter that prevents us from trying something new
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in obstacles
something that makes movement or progress difficult
claims that government regulations are unnecessary fetters that keep him from achieving his business goals
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3
as in handcuffs
something that physically prevents free movement
considered a seat belt a pointless fetter—until one saved his life in an auto accident
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in binds
to confine or restrain with or as if with chains
museum artifacts that serve as somber reminders of the days when slaves were fettered with irons
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in hinders
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
the belief that too many rules and restrictions fetter children's creativity
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fetters
Jeremy Mennis, The Conversation, 1 May 2026
The short life of Alexander Hamilton both feeds and fetters Vaill’s project.
—Jane Kamensky, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
To drag a man in fetters into the grand illuminated temple of liberty, and call upon him to join you in joyous anthems, were inhuman mockery and sacrilegious irony.
—Jeremy Mennis, The Conversation, 1 May 2026
The short life of Alexander Hamilton both feeds and fetters Vaill’s project.
—Jane Kamensky, The Atlantic, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fetters
Noun
-
Israel, meanwhile, has launched nearly 3,500 strikes in Lebanon, according to the country’s prime minister, including in the capital Beirut, despite restrictions imposed by the truce.—
Abbas Al Lawati,
CNN Money,
10 June 2026
-
Those policies, their attorneys argue, violate state laws in California that prohibit restrictions on NIL rights, as well as federal antitrust statutes.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
For more than 48 hours, captain Lillian Zulu had been trying to keep her squad's spirits high despite mounting obstacles.—
Ryan Lenora Brown,
NPR,
14 June 2026
-
One of Whaley’s biggest obstacles was learning how to use a computer to complete his schoolwork.—
Abigail Adams,
PEOPLE,
14 June 2026
Noun
-
For the second time in a week, the same NFL player was placed in handcuffs.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
12 June 2026
-
Photos and videos showed people climbing on cars, street signs and light poles, and NYPD officers placing people in handcuffs.—
Elijah Westbrook,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
They are governed by the strong force, which binds protons and neutrons together inside the atomic nuclei.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
12 June 2026
-
Semaglutide binds to receptors in the brain, gut, pancreas and other tissues, which is part of why side effects show up across so many organ systems.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Our systems are overly complex, spanning hundreds of dependencies, which hinders our ability to move fast.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
10 June 2026
-
Inertia hinders many consumers from seeking out higher rates.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
An athlete who could earn more in NIL but for House constraints can plausibly argue they are being prevented from earning compensation.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
10 June 2026
-
City attorney Andrea Leslie-Fite told council members the moratorium cannot be applied to projects that were already approved because of constraints within state law.—
Mary Ramsey
Updated June 8,
Charlotte Observer,
9 June 2026
Noun
-
Sure, there would be a number of hurdles wrapped up in the process, which would include medical provisions based upon Sorsby's 'mental health disorder' of addiction that his attorneys presented in court as an argument against the NCAA.—
Trey Wallace OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
10 June 2026
-
Local governments were handed extraordinary funding and broad flexibility to bypass traditional bureaucratic hurdles in the name of speed and compassion.—
Michele Steeb,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
Her presence is heralded not by the sounds of howls, roars or clanking chains, but by the shutting of the door to her study, the scrape of her chair as it is pulled towards her desk, and the clanking of her type-writer keys.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
-
Foot-traffic data show shoppers fleeing apparel, electronics and home-furnishing chains for warehouse clubs, supermarkets and dollar stores, while toys and beauty products remain rare splurges in an increasingly needs-first marketplace.—
Anne D’Innocenzio,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fetters.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fetters. Accessed 15 Jun. 2026.
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