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
Oil prices have surged since the United States and Israel struck Iran at the end of February, unleashing a war that has run for more than a month and effectively closed the key shipping artery.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
So does Soderbergh’s camera, which begins sniffing and roving about the space like a dog unleashed.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
The tariffs forced global investors to reassess their exposure to US assets, and failed to unleash an American manufacturing renaissance.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 2 Apr. 2026
In the process, Nicole unintentionally unleashes a terrifyingly malign spirit who lures victims to their deaths with a haunting whistle.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 1 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for unleash
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.
Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026
So does Soderbergh’s camera, which begins sniffing and roving about the space like a dog unleashed.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2026
The tariffs forced global investors to reassess their exposure to US assets, and failed to unleash an American manufacturing renaissance.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 2 Apr. 2026
In the process, Nicole unintentionally unleashes a terrifyingly malign spirit who lures victims to their deaths with a haunting whistle.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 1 Apr. 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 5 Apr. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
