Meaning & use
fettering
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“fettering” is a form of “fetter”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitiveformalfigurative
Limiting someone's freedom or ability to act, either with physical chains or, more often, with rules or circumstances.
Grammar: Takes an object: fettering someone or something. The -ing form is used in continuous tenses, after prepositions, or as a noun.
Patterns
- fetter someone/something
- be fettered by something
- fettering someone's freedom
The new regulations are fettering small businesses with endless paperwork.
He felt that his fear of failure was fettering his creativity.
The prisoners were fettered with heavy iron chains.
noununcountableformalfigurative
The act of restricting freedom or the state of being restricted, especially in a formal or figurative way.
Grammar: Used as a noun, it is uncountable and often appears in formal discussions: the fettering of something.
Patterns
- the fettering of something
- fettering of freedom
The fettering of the press was widely criticized.
They spoke about the fettering of individual rights.
Word forms
| third person singular | fetters |
|---|---|
| past tense | fettered |
| past participle | fettered |
| -ing form | fettering |
Common combinations
- fettering rules
- The fettering rules prevented any change.
- fettering influence
- His father had a fettering influence on his career choices.
- fettering of freedom
- The fettering of freedom of speech is a serious concern.
- fettering chains
- The fettering chains were removed after the trial.
Synonyms and how they differ
- restricting
- More general; 'restricting' can refer to any limit, while 'fettering' suggests a stronger, more confining limitation, often with a negative tone.
- shackling
- Very close in meaning, but 'shackling' is more often used for physical chains and is slightly more dramatic.
- hampering
- Focuses on slowing progress rather than taking away freedom; 'fettering' implies a tighter, more complete restriction.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: fettering or fetter? fettering or feathering?
fettering vs fetter
The base form; 'fettering' is the -ing form, so use 'fetter' for the simple present or infinitive.
fettering vs feathering
Sounds similar but means 'putting feathers on' or, informally, 'making money dishonestly'. Do not confuse the two.
Practice
The heavy taxes were ______ the economy and preventing growth.
Choose one answer.
The continuous form 'fettering' fits after 'were' to show an ongoing action. 'Fetter' is the base form and does not fit after 'were'; 'fettered' would be passive but then the sentence would need 'by' and a different structure; 'fetters' is the third-person singular or plural noun, which does not fit here.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “fettering”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.