as in to unleash
to set free (from a state of being held in check)
that last insult unlocked her tongue, and she finally said what she really thought
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of unlock
Diogo Dalot has been a reliable deputy in that role, but Amorim wants a specialist to unlock the potential of his tactical idea.
—
James McNicholas, The Athletic, 20 Jan. 2025
President Trump's intent to declare a national energy emergency unlocks largely untested federal authorities to keep fossil fuel and nuclear power plants online.
—Daniel Moore, Axios, 20 Jan. 2025
Takeaway: Both extremes—leaning solely on brilliance or compassion—fail to unlock a team’s full potential.
—Ajit Dodani, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
President Joe Biden has declared a major disaster for the region, unlocking federal aid for affected residents.
—Melissa Noel, Essence, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for unlock 
James McNicholas, The Athletic, 20 Jan. 2025
President Trump's intent to declare a national energy emergency unlocks largely untested federal authorities to keep fossil fuel and nuclear power plants online.
—Daniel Moore, Axios, 20 Jan. 2025
Takeaway: Both extremes—leaning solely on brilliance or compassion—fail to unlock a team’s full potential.
—Ajit Dodani, Forbes, 9 Jan. 2025
President Joe Biden has declared a major disaster for the region, unlocking federal aid for affected residents.
—Melissa Noel, Essence, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for unlock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unlock
Verb
-
But before the volcano unleashed its torrent of rock, ash and toxic gases, Pompeii was just another Roman town on the coast of the Mediterranean.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
17 Jan. 2025
-
Across culture, technology, leadership, and innovation, the continent confounded expectations, forged new paths and unleashed its boundless potential onto the world stage.—
Stephanie Busari and Ifeanyi Abraham,
Essence,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
What to do: To remove excess hair, cut the hair strands with scissors to loosen them up and pull them out of the brush.—
Katelyn Squiers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
24 Jan. 2025
-
The clearest way for the White House to loosen rules requiring automakers to make more EVs will be to target vehicle fuel efficiency and tailpipe standards.—
Aarian Marshall,
WIRED,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Share [Findings] Wildfires near Canadian mines were found to have released unprecedented levels of arsenic, and wildfires in Maui were making residents unhappy.—
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi,
Harper's Magazine,
22 Jan. 2025
-
The song’s sound and message resonated with listeners, prompting Lake to release his eight-track EP Hard Fought Hallelujah: Heavyweight Edition, featuring various versions of the song, including live, demo, acoustic and instrumental versions.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
22 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near unlock
Cite this Entry
“Unlock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlock. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share