unseal

verb

un·​seal ˌən-ˈsēl How to pronounce unseal (audio)
unsealed; unsealing; unseals
Synonyms of unsealnext

transitive verb

: to break or remove the seal of : open

Examples of unseal in a Sentence

The court unsealed the documents in the Douglas trial today.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Federal filings, unsealed on July 20, show that three women made complaints to British officials against both brothers. — James Powel, USA Today, 24 July 2026 In a complaint unsealed Monday against Andrew Tate, prosecutors detailed allegations from British authorities that involved two victims. — Julianna Bragg, CNN Money, 21 July 2026 During a Friday news conference, before the affidavit was unsealed, FBI Sacramento Acting Special Agent in Charge Brian Tosh said the situation remained volatile throughout the standoff. — Robert McGreevy , Stepheny Price, FOXNews.com, 18 July 2026 Barely a day after a federal court in New York unsealed the indictment of the 10 men, Sheinbaum dismissed that evidence as insufficient. — Tim Golden, ProPublica, 13 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for unseal

Word History

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unseal was in the 12th century

Rhymes for unseal

See All Rhymes for unseal

Browse Nearby Words

unscrupulousness
unseal
unsealed
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unseal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unseal. Accessed 31 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

unseal

verb
un·​seal ˌən-ˈsē(ə)l How to pronounce unseal (audio)
ˈən-
: to break or remove the seal of

More from Merriam-Webster on unseal

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for unseal

Nglish: Translation of unseal for Spanish Speakers

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