untethered
Free from restraint
Untethered means not attached or connected to something that would restrict movement or independence.
A literal tether is a rope or chain; untethered suggests freedom from such restraint.
The word appears often in figurative contexts: an untethered imagination, untethered from reality.
In technology, untethered describes devices operating without physical connection to a power source or computer: untethered VR headsets, an untethered jailbreak.
Released from restraints
- unfetteredFree from restriction
- unrestrictedHaving no limitations
- unrestrainedNot held back
- unconfinedNot restricted or contained
liberated · unbound · unleashed · emancipated · unbridled · unhindered · unimpeded · uninhibited
Floating without control
- floatingStaying atop liquid
- wanderingTraveling with no fixed course
- aimlessHaving no direction
- meanderingFollowing a winding course
roaming · drifting · unmoored · straying · wafting · gliding · nomadic · rootless
Having no heft
- zero-gravityAbsence of gravitational pull
- floatingStaying atop liquid
- spacewalkVenturing outside a spacecraft
- astronautSpacecraft crew member
orbit · microgravity · spacecraft · satellite · cosmonaut · EVA · orbital · freefall
Release a fastener
- unhookRelease from a curved fastener
- unfastenRelease from attachment
- detachTo separate from
- unstrapRelease from bands
unbuckle · unclasp · disconnect · unplug · untie · loosen · unlatch · unbolt
Separated from a source
- unattachedNot joined or connected
- separatedPut or kept apart
- disengagedNot participating or invested
- uncoupledSeparated after being linked
unlinked · severed · independent · solitary · isolated · unconnected · removed · disassociated
unshackled
Released from restraints
- unfetteredFree from restriction
- unrestrictedHaving no limitations
- unrestrainedNot held back
unconfined · liberated · unbound · unleashed · emancipated · unbridled · unhindered · unimpeded · uninhibited · unconstrained
adrift
Floating without control
meandering · roaming · drifting · unmoored · straying · wafting · gliding · nomadic · rootless · directionless
weightless
Having no heft
- zero-gravityAbsence of gravitational pull
- floatingStaying atop liquid
- spacewalkVenturing outside a spacecraft
astronaut · orbit · microgravity · spacecraft · satellite · cosmonaut · EVA · orbital · freefall · docking
unclip
Release a fastener
unstrap · unbuckle · unclasp · disconnect · unplug · untie · loosen · unlatch · unbolt · disengage
disconnected
Separated from a source
- unattachedNot joined or connected
- separatedPut or kept apart
- disengagedNot participating or invested
uncoupled · unlinked · severed · independent · solitary · isolated · unconnected · removed · disassociated · autonomous
- freefree, freed, liberated, released, unchained
- fastening statesfastened, unfastened, locked, unlocked, latched
- Floatingfloat, floating, afloat, hover, hovering
- connection statusconnected, disconnected, online, offline, connecting
- aimlessnessaimlessness, directionless, drifting, purposelessness, wandering
- off-leash dogdog park, fenced area, recall training, zoomies, dog run
untetheredbound
Secured or destined
constrained · restrained · confined · restricted · trapped