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Recent Examples of unclench
The tempo remains steady, but takes on a softer, more contemplative posture, as if urging you to unclench your jaw.
—
Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 24 Feb. 2026
Also, unclench your butt. Take some big, deep breaths throughout the day to soften your pelvic floor muscles; then work on stretching with a deep squat or yoga poses like child's pose or happy baby pose.
—Marielle Segarra, NPR, 26 June 2025
Your stiff limbs begin to unclench, as if death is slowly losing its hold on you.
—Outside Online, 19 Feb. 2025
If that doesn’t work, unclench your eyes, re-close them in the regular way, and then go back to sleep at a normal speed.
—Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
But first: Close your eyes, take a deep breath, unclench your jaw and roll your shoulders.
—Laura L. Davis, USA TODAY, 15 Aug. 2023
CEOs could finally unclench, at least a little.
—Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 27 Apr. 2022
For those who are vaccinated, relatively healthy, financially stable and with access to decent health care, there’s reason to unclench your jaw.
—Washington Post, 19 Apr. 2022
Without such attention to Indian-Pakistani relations, India's democracy will not prosper and Pakistan's generals will never unclench their fists.
—Christophe Jaffrelot, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2011
Dash Lewis, Pitchfork, 24 Feb. 2026
Also, unclench your butt. Take some big, deep breaths throughout the day to soften your pelvic floor muscles; then work on stretching with a deep squat or yoga poses like child's pose or happy baby pose.
—Marielle Segarra, NPR, 26 June 2025
Your stiff limbs begin to unclench, as if death is slowly losing its hold on you.
—Outside Online, 19 Feb. 2025
If that doesn’t work, unclench your eyes, re-close them in the regular way, and then go back to sleep at a normal speed.
—Ian Frazier, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024
But first: Close your eyes, take a deep breath, unclench your jaw and roll your shoulders.
—Laura L. Davis, USA TODAY, 15 Aug. 2023
CEOs could finally unclench, at least a little.
—Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 27 Apr. 2022
For those who are vaccinated, relatively healthy, financially stable and with access to decent health care, there’s reason to unclench your jaw.
—Washington Post, 19 Apr. 2022
Without such attention to Indian-Pakistani relations, India's democracy will not prosper and Pakistan's generals will never unclench their fists.
—Christophe Jaffrelot, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2011
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unclench
Verb
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The rich textures and thick ambiance of The Eyes of Others are pure high modernist 1960s Italian cinema, but De Sica unfurls the film’s winding intrigues with a contemporary sense of suspense, carnality, and visual boldness.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
29 Apr. 2026
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In past years, that has created openings for disruptions in the lobby and other public spaces, including protests in which security moved to remove guests who unfurled banners or staged demonstrations.—
Bridget Byrne,
Baltimore Sun,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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It can be worn buttoned or unbuttoned with a tank top underneath and slacks at the office, unbuttoned over a maxi dress to cookouts, or as a swimsuit cover-up poolside.—
Clint Davis,
People.com,
24 June 2025
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It can be worn buttoned or unbuttoned over a summer tank top, and the slim collar and rolled sleeves add a pop of texture to its simple design.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
24 May 2025
Verb
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Detectives partially unzipped a bag and found a head and torso.—
Andrew Dalton,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
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The person recording it unzips one body bag to show the body of a child with a bloody head wearing a green plaid shirt.—
Marin Scott,
NBC news,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After the pink fabric is unfastened from styrofoam beams floating 200 feet out from each island, the sections are towed to shore and rolled up in bundles, Morgan said.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2026
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If your button-down outfit is in need of a little spice, a quick trick is to unfasten the top and slip out a single shoulder.—
Sri Rain Stewart,
InStyle,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Advertisement How the shooting unfolded The WHCA dinner is an annual event for White House staff and the press, typically featuring comedy and a satirical speech from the president.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
26 Apr. 2026
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After shooting, there was initial confusion as to what had happened before journalists were able to reach their news outlets to report the details of what unfolded.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Well, technically in person: Shelley leaves the door ajar but doesn’t unlatch it, so Aggie has to plead her case through the crack.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
13 Nov. 2025
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Raven is ever attentive to the imaging of the West as a kind of battleground, where surveillance (and the camera’s inexorable links to the military apparatus) tussles with sentimentality in a centuries-long project from which the national psyche cannot seem to unlatch.—
Anne Reeve,
Artforum,
1 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unclench.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unclench. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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