as in tied
to attach (someone or something) to something else by or as if by means of a line or cord
I tethered the boat to the dock before coming ashore.
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Recent Examples of tethered
In addition to their family bond, the three are tethered by a house as each generation inherits it through the years.
—
Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026
Following his arraignment, he was released on a $25,000 bond and ordered to be tethered to a GPS and continue mental health treatment.
—Austin Meek, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2026
Dogs can't be tethered for more than 30 minutes in temperatures below 30 degrees.
—CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
If a president can take any action so long as it can be tethered, even tenuously, to national security—including imposing trade restrictions on mundane things like beer cans and furniture—what meaningful limits remain on his power?
—Inu Manak, Time, 16 Jan. 2026
For the next several years of development, the visualization was a line that tethered the players together, chosen because Schwarzstein’s offensive line coach at Stanford had used a line concept.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 10 Jan. 2026
Only an air hose and a rope tethered them to the surface.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2026
Firefighters wearing bright orange and red ice rescue suits were seen crawling across the frozen pond while tethered with safety ropes as chunks of ice broke around them.
—Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 3 Jan. 2026
Lund keeps the action tethered to the site, ranging no farther than the dugouts, the woods beyond the outfield, and the nearest street.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 5 Dec. 2025
Ashley MacKin Solomon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026
Following his arraignment, he was released on a $25,000 bond and ordered to be tethered to a GPS and continue mental health treatment.
—Austin Meek, New York Times, 22 Jan. 2026
Dogs can't be tethered for more than 30 minutes in temperatures below 30 degrees.
—CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
If a president can take any action so long as it can be tethered, even tenuously, to national security—including imposing trade restrictions on mundane things like beer cans and furniture—what meaningful limits remain on his power?
—Inu Manak, Time, 16 Jan. 2026
For the next several years of development, the visualization was a line that tethered the players together, chosen because Schwarzstein’s offensive line coach at Stanford had used a line concept.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 10 Jan. 2026
Only an air hose and a rope tethered them to the surface.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 4 Jan. 2026
Firefighters wearing bright orange and red ice rescue suits were seen crawling across the frozen pond while tethered with safety ropes as chunks of ice broke around them.
—Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 3 Jan. 2026
Lund keeps the action tethered to the site, ranging no farther than the dugouts, the woods beyond the outfield, and the nearest street.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 5 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tethered
Verb
-
As a result, phishing emails tied to this breach may appear legitimate and urgent.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
-
One minute later, on a cross-ice pass from Kyrou to Pavel Buchnevich, and a seam pass from Buchnevich to Snuggerud, the 21-year-old rookie teed up a one-timer for his third game-winning goal of the season, tied for the team lead.—
Jeremy Rutherford,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The dog first bounded over to his owner, Ryan Pera, to say hi.—
Aviva Bechky,
Houston Chronicle,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Rather than leave, community leaders rallied to defend the site, leading to the creation of Sakura Square and Tamai Tower on the block bounded by Larimer, 20th, Lawrence and 19th Streets.—
Jessica Alvarado Gamez,
Denver Post,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tethered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tethered. Accessed 6 Feb. 2026.
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