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unfettered

unfettered

28 7.3
Free from limits or rules
  • adjective
  • /ʌnˈfɛtərd/
translation icon : sin restricciones
  • There in the night sky, Pegasus can be seen soaring unfettered and free.
  • an unfettered market
  • unfettered competition
  • unfettered access

And even in vast countries, unfettered markets don't work well.

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Examples

  • However, parents continued to be relatively unfettered in their free reign to rear children.

    Academic text (1991)
  • Unfettered access to the private park is, of course, one of the finest things about living on Gramercy.

  • And it just gets in the way of you and your partner creating new, fresh, unfettered experiences together.

  • In order to do that, they need a they need access, unfettered access to information.

  • I used to believe in the unfettered free market.

  • The little boy looked at it, as little boys do, suddenly unfettered and released from the adults around him.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • Pursue your happiness unfettered by others.

  • Joe's got the kids for three more weeks, so I'm escaping to Paris, where I shall be a free girl, unfettered and alive.

  • Domestic instability is accelerating interstate conflict and paving the way for an unfettered cold war.

    Academic text (1997)
  • After years of constraints, she finally enjoyed an unfettered existence, fully embracing life without limits.

Synonyms

unchecked
vsunfettered
34 4.9

Allowed to continue without control

is freedom without implying neglect of oversight or necessary limits
uncontrolled
vsunfettered
31 3.9

Not kept within limits, like a fire or a strong feeling

is freedom without the negative connotation of disorder or absence of rules
unregulated
vsunfettered
26 4.9

Not controlled by rules or laws

is freedom in general, not specifically the absence of legal or official controls
unbridled
vsunfettered
25 7.3

Very strong feelings or actions that are not kept under control

is general freedom, not limited to strong emotions or impulsive acts
unrestricted
vsunfettered
24 4.1

Free from limits and control, it allows people to use or access

is a broader concept of freedom rather than policies permitting use
unrestrained
vsunfettered
13 5.7

Not held back and showing strong feelings or actions

is general freedom, not only emphasis on visible lack of control
unencumbered
vsunfettered
8 6.8

Free from worries, duties, debts and other things that hold you back

is general freedom, not only absence of burdens or obligations
unbound
vsunfettered
5 5.2

Not tied or held, able to move and act freely

is general freedom rather than only release from being held down
unmolested
vsunfettered
5 6.5

Left alone and not harmed or disturbed

is general freedom, not only the state of being left undisturbed or unharmed
unconstrained
vsunfettered
3 6.1

Not limited or held back and able to act freely

is the general term for being free rather than focusing on lack of limits
ungoverned
vsunfettered
3 7.1

Not controlled and showing no restraint

is freedom without necessarily implying absence of order or discipline
unchained
vsunfettered
3 4.4

Not held by chains and free to act or feel as you want

is broader freedom not limited to absence of physical restraints
unshackled
vsunfettered
2 5.7

Free from chains or things that hold someone back

is general freedom, not only release from specific restrictive devices
untrammeled
vsunfettered
  • Formal
2 8.3

Free and not limited by rules

is general lack of restriction, not always stressing absolute total freedom
untied
vsunfettered
2 1.6

Free from ropes or chains and able to move

is general freedom, not only the act of being released from bindings
unhindered
vsunfettered
1 4.6

Free to move forward without being stopped

is broad freedom, not only freedom from obstacles or interference
uncaged
vsunfettered
1 4.1

Free to express strong feelings and ideas

is freedom generally, not specifically wild or uninhibited in tone
unhampered
vsunfettered
1 5.3

Free to move or act without being stopped

is a general state of freedom, not only lack of obstructions or hindrances
unconstraining
vsunfettered
1 6.9

Allowing freedom to act or choose without strict rules

is the overall state of being free rather than the act of permitting flexibility
free
vsunfettered
1.0

Without being held or controlled and able to move

is a more emphatic or literary adjective than the simple common term
unconfined
vsunfettered
4.7

Without walls or edges, things move freely

is general freedom, not only absence of enclosure or spatial limits
unrestrictive
vsunfettered
5.2

Not making strict rules and allowing a lot of freedom

is broader freedom, not merely a permissive policy or open rule
unconstricted
vsunfettered
6.7

Has no tightness and allows free movement of air, blood, or feelings

is general freedom, not only absence of tightness or narrowing
unhemmed
vsunfettered
6.8

Free and not limited by rules or control

is the general lack of restriction, not only metaphorical borderlessness
untrapped
vsunfettered
4.8

Free from something that holds you so you can move or act

is freedom generally, not specifically escape from capture or confinement
uncircumscribed
vsunfettered
9.0

A situation with no limits or boundaries

is general lack of restriction, not only absence of enclosing boundaries
untempered
vsunfettered
8.4

Very strong and not held back

is freedom in general, not the absence of moderating influence or tempering

Antonyms

8.1

Held by chains or ties so someone cannot move and cannot act freely

How Free

limitless
41 4.0
unfettered
28 7.3
free
1.0
limited
393 2.5

Surface Forms

unfettered positive

Morphology

unfettered = fettered (transparent) = un + fetter + ed

Regular negation: 'un-' applied to the adjectival/past-participle base 'fettered' yields 'not restrained' in an immediately recoverable way.

Etymology

The word unfettered is made of un- 'not' and fetter 'a chain for the foot'. So it means 'not chained', which is why it now means 'free' or 'not limited'.