unbridled
Americanadjective
-
not controlled or restrained.
unbridled enthusiasm.
-
not fitted with a bridle.
adjective
-
with all restraints removed
-
(of a horse, etc) wearing no bridle
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of unbridled
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English unbrydled. See un- 1, bridle ( def. ), + -ed 2 ( def. )
Explanation
Unbridled means "unrestrained." When you find out that you just won the lottery, feel free to jump up and down with unbridled joy. Go ahead, most people would probably let loose in the same way. A bridle is the contraption used to control a horse, including the reins held by the rider and the bit that goes into the horse’s mouth. Add the un prefix and it means there is no control. Unbridled is often used to describe people’s emotions or actions and it can be either a good or a bad thing. If you have unbridled spending, you’re in danger of going in debt. If you tackle homework with unbridled enthusiasm, you’re likely going to get good grades.
Vocabulary lists containing unbridled
Fast Food Nation
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This Week in Words: July 31 - August 4, 2017
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100 SAT Words Beginning with "U"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Unbridled rage explodes in “Power to Undo” from Brittany Howard’s turbulent new album, “What Now.”
From New York Times • Feb. 9, 2024
Unbridled joy, the depths of despair and everything in between.
From BBC • Jun. 30, 2023
Unbridled, this kind of activism can be calamitous for a business.
From Washington Post • Apr. 27, 2023
A “Drive Experience” feature allows the operator to set the interior sound, lighting, responsiveness to one of three moods: Unbridled, Engage or Whisper.
From Seattle Times • Aug. 4, 2021
Unbridled in his own life, he loved resistance to authority.
From The Political History of England - Vol. X. The History of England from the Accession of George III to the close of Pitt's first Administration by Poole, Reginald Lane
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
