untethering
Letting something go
Untethering is the act of releasing something from a tether or connection.
Literally, it means unfastening an animal or object from a rope or chain.
More often the word appears figuratively: untethering yourself from expectations, untethering the economy from gold.
The sense is of gaining freedom through disconnection—cutting loose from whatever held something in place.
Release from constraint
- emancipationRelease from legal bondage
- independenceFreedom from external control
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
- self-determinationControl over one's fate
unshackling · unfettering · enfranchisement · release · unbinding · unchaining · deliverance · manumission
Allowing to escape
- surrenderingCeasing to resist
- relinquishingVoluntarily giving up possession
- unburdeningRelieving oneself of weight
- freeingReleasing from confinement
detaching · disengaging · distancing · separating · individuating · differentiating · emancipating · liberating
To separate from
- disconnectTo break a connection
- unhookRelease from a curved fastener
- unclipRelease a fastener
- unfastenRelease from attachment
unlatch · unstrap · unpin · unclasp · uncouple · loosen · unbolt · unhitch
Floating without control
- unmooredReleased from anchorage
- unanchoredNot fastened down
- floatingStaying atop liquid
- driftingMoving without purpose
wandering · rootless · anchorless · rudderless · nomadic · untied · loose · free-floating
liberation
Release from constraint
- emancipationRelease from legal bondage
- independenceFreedom from external control
- autonomyIndependent decision-making capacity
self-determination · unshackling · unfettering · enfranchisement · release · unbinding · unchaining · deliverance · manumission · disenthrallment
releasing
Allowing to escape
- surrenderingCeasing to resist
- relinquishingVoluntarily giving up possession
- unburdeningRelieving oneself of weight
freeing · detaching · disengaging · distancing · separating · individuating · differentiating · emancipating · liberating · outgrowing
detach
To separate from
- disconnectTo break a connection
- unhookRelease from a curved fastener
- unclipRelease a fastener
unfasten · unlatch · unstrap · unpin · unclasp · uncouple · loosen · unbolt · unhitch · unstick
adrift
Floating without control
- unmooredReleased from anchorage
- unanchoredNot fastened down
- floatingStaying atop liquid
drifting · wandering · rootless · anchorless · rudderless · nomadic · untied · loose · free-floating · directionless
wireless
Untethered signal transmission
mobile · portable · disconnecting · unwired · roaming · remote · free-range
- Space Station Tasksspacewalk, EVA, docking, undocking, maintenance
untetheringrestraining
Holding something back
confining · constraining · restricting · imprisoning · trapping
tether, tethered, untethered, tethers, tethering, untether, untethers