as in freed
to set free (as from slavery or confinement)
authorities eventually unfettered the menagerie of wild animals that had been kept illegally as pets
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in unleashed
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of unfettered
Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 25 July 2025
Whether the response comes from private industry, technological innovation or unfettered chaos, disruption will impact both the providers and recipients of medical care.
—Robert Pearl, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
By giving the show that 10-month off ramp, the network has a chance to recoup its losses, and the host and his staff have the chance for lots of unfettered comedic and political creativity.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 21 July 2025
Perhaps even more importantly, however, is that actions like those from the EPA will take us back to a time of unfettered air pollution in the US.
—Dr. Mark A. Boyer, Hartford Courant, 3 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unfettered
Verb
Implicit in this shift is the recognition that unfettered doping would be bad for your health.
—Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 25 July 2025
Whether the response comes from private industry, technological innovation or unfettered chaos, disruption will impact both the providers and recipients of medical care.
—Robert Pearl, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
By giving the show that 10-month off ramp, the network has a chance to recoup its losses, and the host and his staff have the chance for lots of unfettered comedic and political creativity.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 21 July 2025
Perhaps even more importantly, however, is that actions like those from the EPA will take us back to a time of unfettered air pollution in the US.
—Dr. Mark A. Boyer, Hartford Courant, 3 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unfettered
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfettered
Verb
-
But she’s also been freed in a way.—
Yvonne Villarreal,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2025
-
The Kremlin on Thursday freed Ksenia Karelina, a Russian-American ballerina sentenced to 12 years in prison for donating to a Ukrainian charity, in exchange for a man accused of funneling military-grade electronics from the United States to Russia’s armed forces.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Adidas made $437 million from the first batch of its Yeezy shoes released after severing ties with West, some of which benefited organizations including the Anti-Defamation League and a non-profit founded by George Floyd’s brother.—
Conor Murray,
Forbes,
8 Jan. 2025
-
He was released from prison in October 2019.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
In November 2022, a 28-year-old man who fell overboard from a Carnival Valor cruise ship was rescued off of Louisiana's southeast coast after treading water for nearly 20 hours.—
Rebecca Rosman,
NPR,
27 Dec. 2024
-
Four family members were later rescued as authorities continued recovery efforts.—
Dale Denwalt,
USA TODAY,
26 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Live, her artistry is infinitely more musical and unrestrained.—
Marcus K. Dowling,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
-
In certain contexts, that unrestrained flattery might lead to psychological distress: In recent months, there have been growing reports of individuals experiencing AI psychosis, in which extensive conversations with chatbots may have amplified delusions.—
Lila Shroff,
The Atlantic,
24 July 2025
Adjective
-
Another unconfined delegation that should be subject to judicial scrutiny is provided by the Civil Rights Restoration Act, passed by the Democrats over President Ronald Reagan’s veto, which established the government’s power to arbitrarily withhold funding from universities.—
George Liebmann,
Baltimore Sun,
1 June 2025
-
This accounted for just 3 percent of heating fires overall, but these led to more than 40 percent of fatalities, in part because portable heaters tend to be placed precisely where people live and sleep, and because the resulting fires are far more likely to be unconfined.—
Matthew Korfhage,
WIRED,
24 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unfettered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfettered. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share