unfettered
/ʌnˈfetəd/ (bre, ipa) · [ənfˈɛtɚd] /ʌnˈfetərd/ (ame, ipa) · [ənfˈɛtɚd] /ˌən-ˈfe-tərd/ (ame, mw)
unfettered — adjective
- unfetteredpositive
- more unfetteredcomparative
- most unfetteredsuperlative
1. completely free to do what you want or to develop in any way, because no rules,
completely free to do what you want or to develop in any way, because no rules, controls, or other limits are holding you back
Journalists demanded unfettered access to the disaster area to report on the rescue effort.
collocation: unfettered access
Luca believes that true creativity comes from unfettered thinking, without worrying what others will say.
collocation: unfettered thinking
The museum gave schoolchildren unfettered freedom to explore the exhibits on their own.
Critics warned that unfettered corporate power would harm both consumers and small businesses.
The technology industry saw unfettered growth during a period with very few regulations.
- unrestricted
more neutral and slightly less formal; commonly used for access, movement, or rights
- unconstrained
emphasises the absence of external pressures; often used in economic or creative contexts
- unrestrained
suggests a lack of self-control as well as external limits; can imply excess
- free
much broader in meaning and far more common; unfettered suggests a stronger contrast against prior limits
- restricted
most direct opposite; implies rules or barriers are actively in place
- constrained
suggests pressure or force that limits options
- fettered
the literal opposite; rare in modern use, mostly poetic or formal
- limited
broader, less dramatic opposite; can refer to quantity or scope
文法句型
unfettered + noun (access/freedom/power/markets)
用法筆記
Unfettered is a formal word used almost always in figurative contexts (rules, controls, limits) rather than literally about physical chains. It appears most often in academic writing, journalism, and political commentary. Common noun partners include 'access,' 'freedom,' 'markets,' 'power,' 'capitalism,' and 'imagination.'