Ongebreidelde

Ongebreidelde is a Dutch adjective meaning unrestrained, unbridled, or unchecked. It is used to describe situations, forces, or behaviors that operate without adequate limits, oversight, or moderation. The term is commonly found in formal, media, and academic discourse and often carries a strong evaluative tone.

In usage, ongebreidelde is typically placed before a noun to emphasize excess. Common collocations include ongebreidelde macht (unbridled power), ongebreidelde groei (unrestrained growth), and ongebreide passie (uncontrollable passion). It can also appear with abstract phenomena such as ongebreidelde kapitalistische activiteit (unbridled capitalist activity) or ongebreidelde geweldpleging (unrestrained violence). The expression is frequently employed in political, economic, and cultural criticism to argue that current systems or actors lack sufficient checks and balances.

Nuance and tone: the term is evaluative and somewhat heightened, often used to warn against or critique excess. While it can be descriptive, it more commonly signals concern about consequences of insufficient regulation, ethics, or foresight. It is less suited for neutral, purely descriptive writing; in such contexts plainer alternatives like ongecontroleerd or zonder remmelingen may be preferred.

Related terms and contrasts include ongecontroleerd (uncontrolled), zonder remmingen (without restraints), and vrije hand (free rein). Ongebreidelde expressions are frequent in debates about governance, markets, technology, and social trends, where advocates and critics differ over where limits should lie and how to enforce them.