unleashed; unleashing; unleashes
1
: to free from or as if from a leash : let loose
unleash the dogs
unleashing his anger
2
: to throw, shoot, or set in motion forcefully
… unleashed a superb shot … to earn his side a point.—
The New York Times
The New York Times3
: to allow or cause (something powerful) to happen suddenly
The storm unleashed its fury.
The editorial unleashed a flood/torrent of angry responses.
Examples of unleash in a Sentence
The storm unleashed its fury.
The editorial unleashed a torrent of angry responses.
Recent Examples on the Web
The mystery has gripped the nation, unleashing both outrage and terror at the prospect of a grandma being so easily swept away in the night.
—Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
The video unleashed a flood of tips, NBC News reported.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2026
In response, her government unleashed a brutal and bloody crackdown that only galvanized the movement and brought more people onto the streets.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
Their uneasy dynamic fractures when the attorney embarks on a consuming affair with a younger woman, igniting a volatile love triangle that unleashes obsession, betrayal and a ruthless battle for control of the family fortune.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unleash
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Donna Vickroy, Chicago Tribune, 13 Feb. 2026
The video unleashed a flood of tips, NBC News reported.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 11 Feb. 2026
In response, her government unleashed a brutal and bloody crackdown that only galvanized the movement and brought more people onto the streets.
—Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 10 Feb. 2026
Their uneasy dynamic fractures when the attorney embarks on a consuming affair with a younger woman, igniting a volatile love triangle that unleashes obsession, betrayal and a ruthless battle for control of the family fortune.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 10 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unleash
Cite this Entry
“Unleash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unleash. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unleash
verb
un·leash
ˌən-ˈlēsh 
: to free from or as if from a leash
unleash a dog
the storm unleashed its fury
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