unfettered
Meaning: Free from restraint, limitation, or control; unrestrained and unhindered in action or expression.
Unfettered draws on the image of removing shackles (fetters) and implies liberation from constraint. It is frequently used in political and economic discourse — 'unfettered capitalism,' 'unfettered access,' 'unfettered power' — and can carry either positive or negative connotations depending on context. When applied to freedom or creativity, it is celebratory; when applied to power or markets, it often implies dangerous excess.
Examples
- The report warned against giving regulators unfettered access to private communications. 报告警告不应给予监管机构对私人通信的无限制访问权。El informe advirtió contra conceder a los reguladores un acceso ilimitado a las comunicaciones privadas.報告書は、規制当局に私的通信への無制限のアクセスを与えることに対して警告した。보고서는 규제 당국에 사적 통신에 대한 무제한 접근 권한을 부여하는 것에 대해 경고했다.
- Artists flourished in an environment of unfettered creative expression. 艺术家们在不受束缚的创作自由环境中蓬勃发展。Los artistas prosperaron en un entorno de expresión creativa sin restricciones.芸術家たちは、自由な創造的表現が認められた環境の中で花開いた。예술가들은 자유로운 창작 표현이 보장된 환경에서 꽃을 피웠다.
- Critics argued that unfettered free-market policies had widened the gap between rich and poor. 批评者认为不受约束的自由市场政策加剧了贫富差距。Los críticos argumentaron que las políticas de libre mercado sin trabas habían ampliado la brecha entre ricos y pobres.批評家たちは、無制限の自由市場政策が貧富の格差を拡大させたと主張した。비평가들은 무제한적인 자유시장 정책이 빈부 격차를 확대시켰다고 주장했다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: journalism, political, academic
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From un- (not) and fettered, from Old English fetor meaning a chain for the feet. The figurative sense of removing restrictions developed in the 16th century.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
More From This Topic
More from General Advanced
Flashcards, quizzes, audio pronunciation & spaced repetition — all free