1
as in restriction
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 obstacle
something that makes movement or progress difficult
claims that government regulations are unnecessary fetters that keep him from achieving his business goals
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in chain
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 to bind
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to impede
to create difficulty for the work or activity of
the belief that too many rules and restrictions fetter children's creativity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of fetter
Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2024
Rumors circulated before the killing of Khashoggi that King Salman was concerned enough to consider putting some fetters on his heir.
—Daniel Benjamin, Foreign Affairs, 18 Oct. 2018
The solution to this question can be reached not by deifying the nation, but on the contrary by completely liberating productive forces from the fetters imposed upon them by the national state.
—Foreign Affairs, 18 Dec. 2011
One man even contrived somehow to get across while still in iron fetters.
—Adam Goodheart, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Sep. 2023
Its stage is where King Kong broke his fetters in the 1933 movie.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2023
And then there’s the New Deal, another famous attempt to slap fetters on the rough beast of capitalism.
—Jonah Goldberg, National Review, 22 Nov. 2019
This early recording is unique—brisk and pugnacious, a stormy, bitter Schubert raging against his earthly fetters and then distilling his passions, in the last movement, into headlong lunges, dazzling whirls, and delicate pirouettes.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2020
Like the shrimp and grits, the fetter papa burger ($15) is appropriately decadent.
—Lindsey McClave, The Courier-Journal, 28 Aug. 2019
John D. Witiak, Baltimore Sun, 6 July 2024
Ruskin felt insulted and legally fettered by the verdict.
—Adrian Dannatt, New York Times, 6 Dec. 2023
Certain wandered between rows of mannequins fettered with leg irons, claustrophobic dungeon cells and a towering guillotine.
—Jeremy Redmon, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Oct. 2023
After the beating, he was fettered in iron chains around his ankles, which would rub his skin raw.
—Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 12 Sep. 2023
Teddy Roosevelt broke up the trusts, regulated the food supply, created the National Park System, and fettered the railroads.
—Jonah Goldberg, National Review, 22 Nov. 2019
Botany was also often fettered to expertise in gardening, another activity that fell within the realm of the feminine.
—Amandas Ong, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2018
In many developing countries, girls face two starkly divergent paths: one fettered by gender inequality and cut short by early childbearing and the other offering personal fulfillment and economic improvement that benefit families and nations.
—Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Apr. 2018
While your job is to enforce the consistency that stylebooks aim for, you must not be fettered by it.
—John E. McIntyre, baltimoresun.com, 25 Aug. 2017
Noun
But Trump famously wriggles free from such fetters and resists being hemmed in.
—Peter D. Feaver, Foreign Affairs, 6 Nov. 2024
Rumors circulated before the killing of Khashoggi that King Salman was concerned enough to consider putting some fetters on his heir.
—Daniel Benjamin, Foreign Affairs, 18 Oct. 2018
The solution to this question can be reached not by deifying the nation, but on the contrary by completely liberating productive forces from the fetters imposed upon them by the national state.
—Foreign Affairs, 18 Dec. 2011
One man even contrived somehow to get across while still in iron fetters.
—Adam Goodheart, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Sep. 2023
Its stage is where King Kong broke his fetters in the 1933 movie.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2023
And then there’s the New Deal, another famous attempt to slap fetters on the rough beast of capitalism.
—Jonah Goldberg, National Review, 22 Nov. 2019
This early recording is unique—brisk and pugnacious, a stormy, bitter Schubert raging against his earthly fetters and then distilling his passions, in the last movement, into headlong lunges, dazzling whirls, and delicate pirouettes.
—Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 12 Mar. 2020
Like the shrimp and grits, the fetter papa burger ($15) is appropriately decadent.
—Lindsey McClave, The Courier-Journal, 28 Aug. 2019
Verb
Our vote, secret and simple, not fettered by any AI or the eyes of an authoritarian who threatens those who disagree with him, ensures that our union endures.
—John D. Witiak, Baltimore Sun, 6 July 2024
Ruskin felt insulted and legally fettered by the verdict.
—Adrian Dannatt, New York Times, 6 Dec. 2023
Certain wandered between rows of mannequins fettered with leg irons, claustrophobic dungeon cells and a towering guillotine.
—Jeremy Redmon, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Oct. 2023
After the beating, he was fettered in iron chains around his ankles, which would rub his skin raw.
—Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 12 Sep. 2023
Teddy Roosevelt broke up the trusts, regulated the food supply, created the National Park System, and fettered the railroads.
—Jonah Goldberg, National Review, 22 Nov. 2019
Botany was also often fettered to expertise in gardening, another activity that fell within the realm of the feminine.
—Amandas Ong, The Atlantic, 17 Apr. 2018
In many developing countries, girls face two starkly divergent paths: one fettered by gender inequality and cut short by early childbearing and the other offering personal fulfillment and economic improvement that benefit families and nations.
—Howard Lafranchi, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Apr. 2018
While your job is to enforce the consistency that stylebooks aim for, you must not be fettered by it.
—John E. McIntyre, baltimoresun.com, 25 Aug. 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fetter
Noun
-
Pryor, like other D-1 athletes, accepted amateurism restrictions as a condition of playing college sports.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
8 Jan. 2025
-
White House officials canceled air traffic restrictions tied to the president's movement, allowing first responders to focus on the wildfire crisis.—
Hannah Parry,
Newsweek,
8 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
There is a path to preventing such a wrong turn, even if the path is strewn with obstacles and is uphill all the way.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
17 Jan. 2025
-
Their change of heart reflects the inconvenient practical obstacles to suddenly cutting off access to a popular platform.—
Johanna Costigan,
Forbes,
17 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Debenhams, once a national department store chain, is now an online-only business, while the number of House of Fraser stores has nearly halved since retailer Mike Ashley took over the franchise.—
Samantha Conti,
WWD,
9 Jan. 2025
-
As Texans prepare for the weather, some of the area’s largest grocery chains have seen an increase in demand for staple items, like bottled water, milk, eggs, cereal, bread, peanut butter and paper goods.—
Kate Marijolovic,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Removing such an important network from any team is bound to cause disruption to the team’s identity.—
Jordan Campbell,
The Athletic,
18 Jan. 2025
-
The Jubilee runs through early January 2026, so, if you are bound for Rome, book everything as far in advance as possible.—
Gary Stoller,
Forbes,
18 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
This intergenerational transfer of wealth while providing essential support to parents and grandparents often impedes young adults’ ability to accumulate wealth.—
Noreen Sugrue,
Forbes,
8 Jan. 2025
-
Congress has delegated much of its foreign economic authority to the White House, but the biggest speed bump impeding Trump's ability to impose tariffs on Canada may be a trade deal negotiated under Trump himself: the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).—
Shannon K. Kingston,
ABC News,
7 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
The launch date is dependent on spacecraft traffic to the ISS and in-orbit activity planning and constraints that have to be coordinated with NASA.—
Richard Tribou,
Orlando Sentinel,
15 Jan. 2025
-
Frame policies as tools to achieve organizational objectives rather than constraints. ◾ Pilot programs: Suggest rolling out one or two key policies first ‒ perhaps related to safety or performance management ‒ to demonstrate their impact before expanding further.—
Johnny C. Taylor Jr.,
USA TODAY,
14 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Fetterman is a co-sponsor of the Laken Riley Act — an immigration bill aimed at curbing crime by migrants — which cleared its first hurdle toward passage in the Senate last week, when 33 Senate Democrats voted with Republicans in the 84-9 vote Thursday.—
Alex Gangitano,
The Hill,
13 Jan. 2025
-
One persistent hurdle is maintaining staff engagement in a high-turnover industry.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes,
11 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Makhachev's 15 wins in a row is also one away from tying the 16-fight win streak that was set by Anderson Silva.—
David Faris,
Newsweek,
19 Jan. 2025
-
Jrue Holiday committed a costly late-game turnover and fouled Trae Young with the Celtics up two, allowing the Hawks star to tie the game with free throws.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
19 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near fetter
Cite this Entry
“Fetter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fetter. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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