as in loose
not bound, confined, or detained by force
residents of the camp for drug rehabilitation are completely unconfined—no one is there unless they want to be
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Recent Examples of unconfined
This accounted for just 3 percent of heating fires overall, but these led to more than 40 percent of fatalities, in part because portable heaters tend to be placed precisely where people live and sleep, and because the resulting fires are far more likely to be unconfined.
—
Matthew Korfhage, WIRED, 24 Mar. 2025
But even with this extensive network, there still is a need for improvements to address data gaps and enhance the representation of different aquifers, both in confined and unconfined conditions.
—Claire Marks, Austin American-Statesman, 27 Aug. 2024
Destroying a pier is likely beyond the capability of an unconfined sea drone explosion.
—Ben Hodges, Led Klosky, Robert Person, Foreign Affairs, 5 Dec. 2023
But the physics of an unconfined air blast that disperses its energy in all directions meant that only a small percentage of the blast’s force was focused directly on the bridge’s underside.
—Ben Hodges, Led Klosky, Robert Person, Foreign Affairs, 5 Dec. 2023
Let joy be unconfined!
—Vulture, 2 Nov. 2022
An average of about 2,400 calls are received by Anchorage Animal Care and Control each year about off-leash or unconfined animals, mostly dogs, said Tamiah Liebersbach, the administration manager for the municipal health department, which works alongside the Animal Control Advisory Board.
—Tess Williams, Anchorage Daily News, 5 Feb. 2021
Principles of biological terrestrial locomotion have been discovered on unconfined vertical and horizontal substrates.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 31 May 2013
One, the kind researchers are now worried about, is the unconfined water that gathers in the pore spaces of soil very close to the surface.
—Rosanna Xiastaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2023
Matthew Korfhage, WIRED, 24 Mar. 2025
But even with this extensive network, there still is a need for improvements to address data gaps and enhance the representation of different aquifers, both in confined and unconfined conditions.
—Claire Marks, Austin American-Statesman, 27 Aug. 2024
Destroying a pier is likely beyond the capability of an unconfined sea drone explosion.
—Ben Hodges, Led Klosky, Robert Person, Foreign Affairs, 5 Dec. 2023
But the physics of an unconfined air blast that disperses its energy in all directions meant that only a small percentage of the blast’s force was focused directly on the bridge’s underside.
—Ben Hodges, Led Klosky, Robert Person, Foreign Affairs, 5 Dec. 2023
Let joy be unconfined!
—Vulture, 2 Nov. 2022
An average of about 2,400 calls are received by Anchorage Animal Care and Control each year about off-leash or unconfined animals, mostly dogs, said Tamiah Liebersbach, the administration manager for the municipal health department, which works alongside the Animal Control Advisory Board.
—Tess Williams, Anchorage Daily News, 5 Feb. 2021
Principles of biological terrestrial locomotion have been discovered on unconfined vertical and horizontal substrates.
—Seriously Science, Discover Magazine, 31 May 2013
One, the kind researchers are now worried about, is the unconfined water that gathers in the pore spaces of soil very close to the surface.
—Rosanna Xiastaff Writer, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unconfined
Adjective
-
Lots of his work, including Succession and some writing on political satires, such as Veep and The Thick of It, draw loose and sometimes close inspiration from current events.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
30 May 2025
-
Entering the final year of his contract, which carries a $4.5 million annual average value, Marchment could shake loose as a result of Dallas opting to make some difficult budgetary choices this summer.—
Harman Dayal,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Adjective
-
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.—
Rachel Flynn,
People.com,
27 May 2025
-
Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
27 May 2025
Adjective
-
One of the scarier parts of the last few weeks has been this idea that Trump has become totally unbound, even from the few things that kept him on the rails in the first term, such as public opinion and the stock market.—
Carlo Versano,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 May 2025
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Trump's attack on birthright citizenship is just one example of a larger, horrifying pattern—a presidency unbound by precedent, marked by an abuse of authority, motivated by division, and willing to trample individual rights for political gain.—
Tom Rogers,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Lee was unrestrained, sustained fatal injuries, and was pronounced deceased on the scene.—
DeMicia Inman,
VIBE.com,
22 May 2025
-
Brown’s two children were sitting unrestrained in the front seat and were seriously injured in the crash, the complaint read.—
Mitchell Willetts,
Kansas City Star,
14 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unconfined.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unconfined. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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