as in to free
to set free (as from slavery or confinement)
authorities eventually unfettered the menagerie of wild animals that had been kept illegally as pets
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Recent Examples of unfetter
His long run in office, however, delivered only partial victories on his two primary ambitions: to unfetter Japan’s military after decades of postwar pacifism and to jump-start and overhaul its economy through a program known as Abenomics.
—
New York Times, 8 July 2022
As spring ends, maple trees begin to unfetter winged seeds that flutter and swirl from branches to land gently on the ground.
—Nikk Ogasa, Scientific American, 22 Sep. 2021
By manufacturing satellite components in space, Made In Space hopes to unfetter some of those launch constraints.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 2 Aug. 2019
Unfettered by worries about his relationship, Caldwell thrived.
—Jason Blevins, The Denver Post, 18 May 2017
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfetter
Verb
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Pots, pans, trays, and lots of utensils can be shoved onto oven shelves to free up counter and kitchen table space.—
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The engine, freed from its hook by a sudden hard, precise kick, quickly sank into the river, pulling the cord tight and dragging the foreman underwater.—
Verb
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Hudson, for her part, felt liberated.—
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Russia’s president has claimed that his invasion of Ukraine was a mission to liberate the people of that country.—
Verb
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Yet again, Netflix has released a Harlan Coben adaptation on New Year’s Day—and again it’s written by Danny Brocklehurst (Fool Me Once).—
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The sateen weave strikes the perfect balance for fall—breathable enough to release pesky heat and moisture, yet cozy and smooth enough to snuggle into on cooler nights.—
Verb
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The Los Angeles County Fire Department on Wednesday rescued three people who were trapped under a collapsed retaining wall in Lennox.—
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In the final battle, the group of heroes kills Vecna, and the Mind Flayer, before rescuing the children and setting off bombs that destroy the Upside Down.—
Verb
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The acidic properties of this inexpensive, nontoxic, and eco-friendly household cleaner help to break down grease, loosen dried-on food, and neutralize funky odors.—
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Instead of stimulating the brain, alcohol slows it down and loosens inhibitions.—
Verb
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The actress would go on to struggle with addiction issues and in February 1991, emancipated herself at the age of 14.—
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All the black captives in liberated territories were emancipated, and Amador was proclaimed king.—
Cite this Entry
“Unfetter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfetter. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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