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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of unlock
In 2024, the Biden administration banned the import of Russian uranium and unlocked $2.7 billion in federal funding to expand domestic uranium enrichment and conversion capacity.
—
Magdalena Petrova, CNBC, 12 June 2025
They’re needed to unlock Stickers and new cars respectively.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 12 June 2025
Johnny Carson, Merv Griffin, Judy Garland are back on TV
Oct. 12, 2015
The enduring success of the series, set in the frontier town of Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, demonstrates how every new evolution of video consumption can unlock the value of beloved vintage titles.
—Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025
Schools unlocking creative revenue streams is something that can be expected.
—Maura Carey, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlock
Magdalena Petrova, CNBC, 12 June 2025
They’re needed to unlock Stickers and new cars respectively.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 12 June 2025
Johnny Carson, Merv Griffin, Judy Garland are back on TV
Oct. 12, 2015
The enduring success of the series, set in the frontier town of Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, demonstrates how every new evolution of video consumption can unlock the value of beloved vintage titles.
—Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 12 June 2025
Schools unlocking creative revenue streams is something that can be expected.
—Maura Carey, Chicago Tribune, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for unlock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unlock
Verb
-
The remarks refer to a sweeping campaign unleashed by Xi with an aim to purge religious faiths of foreign influence and align them more closely with traditional Chinese culture – and the authoritarian rule of the officially atheist Communist Party.—
Nectar Gan,
CNN Money,
6 June 2025
-
Eventually Trump let slip that he was disappointed in his former adviser, prompting Musk to unleash a flood of insults and taunts.—
Chris Megerian,
Chicago Tribune,
6 June 2025
Verb
-
The ruling Wednesday evening marked the latest setback for Apple in its long-running legal battle with Epic Games, which first sued the iPhone maker in 2020 in an attempt to force Apple to loosen its grip on purchases in apps that utilize its iOS operating system.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
5 June 2025
-
Stir in chicken stock and wine, scraping bottom of pan to loosen any browned bits.—
Ann Taylor Pittman,
Southern Living,
5 June 2025
Verb
-
Just three days later, Apple released a second build of the first beta — that’s unprecedentedly soon.—
David Phelan,
Forbes.com,
15 June 2025
-
His meme coin $TRUMP was not part of the form as it was only released this year.—
Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy,
USA Today,
15 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unlock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlock. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share