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
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Recent Examples of unlock
And reframing it may be the key to unlocking a more fulfilling life for women of all ages.
—
Brittany Luse, NPR, 17 Sep. 2025
New customers have the option to unlock a $1,000 first-bet safety net instead.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
To unlock the full payout, however, the billionaire must meet ambitious targets, including scaling Tesla’s robotaxi business and taking the company’s market value to $8.5 trillion within a decade — nearly nine times its current worth.
—Natasha Bracken, semafor.com, 5 Sep. 2025
The question for every executive is this: What capabilities in your team could AI help unlock?
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlock
Brittany Luse, NPR, 17 Sep. 2025
New customers have the option to unlock a $1,000 first-bet safety net instead.
—Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
To unlock the full payout, however, the billionaire must meet ambitious targets, including scaling Tesla’s robotaxi business and taking the company’s market value to $8.5 trillion within a decade — nearly nine times its current worth.
—Natasha Bracken, semafor.com, 5 Sep. 2025
The question for every executive is this: What capabilities in your team could AI help unlock?
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unlock
Verb
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The ambush unleashed a brutal firefight that ended in Ruth's death.—
David K. Li,
NBC news,
18 Sep. 2025
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This step unlocks the spice’s fat-soluble compounds, unleashing its brawny, savory-sweet flavors.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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After being stuck on a boss, eternally forced to run back and replay swaths of danger for just another slim shot at winning, overcoming most challenges feels less like triumph and more like someone’s mercifully loosened the belt around your neck.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
19 Sep. 2025
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Rinse the seeds in cold water to help loosen the strands.—
Johna Burdeos,
Health,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This year’s results covering 2023 and 2024, which were shared exclusively with Forbes, will be released tomorrow.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
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Agents detained two suspects – including one at the scene of the crime – but later released them and cleared them of any involvement.—
Rick Jervis,
USA Today,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unlock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlock. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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