Fetter

A fetter is something that restricts or inhibits someone or something, typically a chain or shackle used to restrain a prisoner. The word can be used literally to describe physical restraints or figuratively to describe any constraint on freedom, movement, or progress. It implies a state of being bound or limited, often suggesting a loss of autonomy or the imposition of obstacles. The impact of fetters, whether physical or metaphorical, can range from inconvenience to profound distress or oppression. It highlights the struggle against constraint and the desire for liberation.

Fetter meaning with examples

• The escaped convict was caught quickly, his ankles still burdened by the heavy fetters of the prison. These iron bands, remnants of his confinement, made his freedom short-lived, signifying how powerfully restraints restrict and bind.
• Economic fetters, such as high taxes and regulations, stifled the growth of the new businesses in the city, preventing them from developing and realizing their full potential, and limiting their entrepreneurial drive.
• Her fear of failure acted as a fetter, preventing her from pursuing her dreams of becoming a musician, holding her back, and suppressing her creative potential. The constant anxiety had an inhibiting effect on her aspirations.
• Years of tradition and social expectations formed fetters around her choices, making it hard to break free from the pre-ordained path. Her decision was influenced by outside pressures.
• The author's style of writing, full of overly complex sentences and esoteric language, served as a fetter to wider readership. It was a barrier to accessibility, reducing the work's readability.