as in tying
to attach (someone or something) to something else by or as if by means of a line or cord
I tethered the boat to the dock before coming ashore.
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Recent Examples of tethering
By tethering the livelihood of these workers to divisive debates over sanctuary policies, the Democrats have prioritized political optics over the basic welfare of the American worker.
—
Paul Vallas, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
Disrupting airports by tethering the pay of airport security screeners to the tumult of Washington politics is untenable.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 22 Mar. 2026
Colonel Parker, Elvis’s manager, kept his cash cow on a leash, tethering him first to middling B-pictures, then to casinos.
—Amy Nicholson, Twin Cities, 28 Feb. 2026
Colonel Parker, Elvis’s manager, kept his cash cow on a leash, tethering him first to middling B-pictures, then to casinos.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
The policy includes other restrictions as well, such as bans on tethering during weather advisories or at night.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 29 Jan. 2026
One delayed tethering himself to Cignetti — a Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America defensive back.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 19 Jan. 2026
Either option requires a hospital stay of around two to three days, and the recovery afterward can be shorter for tethering.
—Kate Snow, NBC news, 4 Dec. 2025
It was designed to give employers leverage over foreign workers by tethering their immigration status to their job.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Paul Vallas, Chicago Tribune, 23 Mar. 2026
Disrupting airports by tethering the pay of airport security screeners to the tumult of Washington politics is untenable.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 22 Mar. 2026
Colonel Parker, Elvis’s manager, kept his cash cow on a leash, tethering him first to middling B-pictures, then to casinos.
—Amy Nicholson, Twin Cities, 28 Feb. 2026
Colonel Parker, Elvis’s manager, kept his cash cow on a leash, tethering him first to middling B-pictures, then to casinos.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
The policy includes other restrictions as well, such as bans on tethering during weather advisories or at night.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 29 Jan. 2026
One delayed tethering himself to Cignetti — a Football Writers Association of America Freshman All-America defensive back.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 19 Jan. 2026
Either option requires a hospital stay of around two to three days, and the recovery afterward can be shorter for tethering.
—Kate Snow, NBC news, 4 Dec. 2025
It was designed to give employers leverage over foreign workers by tethering their immigration status to their job.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tethering
Verb
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Raygan Kirk made 28 saves, allowing only Fanuza Kadirova's tying goal late in the first period.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
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Because on a night the Celtics shot 21 of 44 on 3-pointers, the Heat countered at 24 of 47 from beyond the arc, tying the franchise record for 3-pointers.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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If management was unwilling to accept the latest offer or negotiate based on it, the WGSU suggested that the dispute could be submitted for binding arbitration at the California State Mediation and Conciliation Service or to the American Arbitration Association.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
27 Mar. 2026
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That binding — along with effects similar to those of opioid drugs such as heroin, fentanyl or oxycodone — has led some experts and politicians to refer to kratom as an opioid.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN Money,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The president of a labor union representing Transportation Security Administration employees is lashing out at lawmakers, telling them not to leave Washington, DC, for Easter recess before passing a deal to pay its agents amid the ongoing partial government shutdown.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
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How this showdown plays out will affect not only Anthropic’s booming business but also the way tech titans and other corporations work with an administration known for lashing out at resisters, said Alan Rozenshtein, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota Law School.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tethering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tethering. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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