as in unlatched
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Dissimilar Words
as in unleashed
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unlocked
Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 4 Feb. 2026
Thank goodness — sometimes — for unlocked doors.
—Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 2 Feb. 2026
The unlawful taking of articles from a motor vehicle, locked or unlocked.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 30 Jan. 2026
According to the District Attorney’s Office, Akers was working undercover as part of a task force when Stewart, 46, ran from uniformed law enforcement officers and then hid inside an unlocked tow truck.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
The firearm is almost always loaded, unlocked and left within reach — a nightstand drawer, a closet shelf, a purse, a car console.
—Myron Rolle, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2026
According to the department, 55 firearms were stolen from residences, and from both locked and unlocked vehicles, in 2025.
—Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 15 Jan. 2026
Shift in policy Verizon once sold phones that arrived unlocked.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 13 Jan. 2026
Gonzales’ lawyer Nico LaHood discussed safety protocols with Reyes, asking him whether there was a culture of unlocked doors at Robb Elementary.
—Matthew J. Friedman, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
Maura Carey, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
But this document, which compelled me to interrogate my past more fully, unlocked the doors for a discussion on gender violence in my family history, most urgently the history of my sister’s femicide.
—Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
As the owner and his employee, Eduardo Perez Basurto, unlocked the business on May 3, 2024, seven masked men climbed out of a nearby white van.
—Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Phones that could be unlocked quickly became magnets for theft.
—Roslyn Layton, Boston Herald, 10 Feb. 2026
Carreras scored the crucial opening goal, determinedly driving into the box and finishing in an individual flourish that unlocked the match in the 65th minute.
—Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
But what’s just as valuable, and often overlooked, are the exclusive Prime member-only deals that are unlocked well before everyone else has access, like Amazon’s Presidents Day sales one week early.
—Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
Sharing, Smith told his players, unlocked everything about his recovery.
—Andrew Callahan, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2026
The talent of tomorrow can only be fully unlocked with classrooms equipped to teach ethics, creativity and the skills that machines can’t replicate.
—Jason Isaac Park, Washington Post, 5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
The man told officers two males entered his unlocked apartment and sprayed him with a fire extinguisher, according to police.
—Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 4 Feb. 2026
Thank goodness — sometimes — for unlocked doors.
—Frank Witsil, Freep.com, 2 Feb. 2026
The unlawful taking of articles from a motor vehicle, locked or unlocked.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 30 Jan. 2026
According to the District Attorney’s Office, Akers was working undercover as part of a task force when Stewart, 46, ran from uniformed law enforcement officers and then hid inside an unlocked tow truck.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Jan. 2026
The firearm is almost always loaded, unlocked and left within reach — a nightstand drawer, a closet shelf, a purse, a car console.
—Myron Rolle, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Jan. 2026
According to the department, 55 firearms were stolen from residences, and from both locked and unlocked vehicles, in 2025.
—Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 15 Jan. 2026
Shift in policy Verizon once sold phones that arrived unlocked.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 13 Jan. 2026
Gonzales’ lawyer Nico LaHood discussed safety protocols with Reyes, asking him whether there was a culture of unlocked doors at Robb Elementary.
—Matthew J. Friedman, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
The Olympic announcement unlocked a future that some of the best flag football players in the game, like quarterback Diana Flores, had only dreamt of.
—Maura Carey, Fortune, 10 Feb. 2026
But this document, which compelled me to interrogate my past more fully, unlocked the doors for a discussion on gender violence in my family history, most urgently the history of my sister’s femicide.
—Literary Hub, 10 Feb. 2026
As the owner and his employee, Eduardo Perez Basurto, unlocked the business on May 3, 2024, seven masked men climbed out of a nearby white van.
—Matthew Ormseth, Los Angeles Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Phones that could be unlocked quickly became magnets for theft.
—Roslyn Layton, Boston Herald, 10 Feb. 2026
Carreras scored the crucial opening goal, determinedly driving into the box and finishing in an individual flourish that unlocked the match in the 65th minute.
—Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
But what’s just as valuable, and often overlooked, are the exclusive Prime member-only deals that are unlocked well before everyone else has access, like Amazon’s Presidents Day sales one week early.
—Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 8 Feb. 2026
Sharing, Smith told his players, unlocked everything about his recovery.
—Andrew Callahan, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2026
The talent of tomorrow can only be fully unlocked with classrooms equipped to teach ethics, creativity and the skills that machines can’t replicate.
—Jason Isaac Park, Washington Post, 5 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unlocked
Adjective
-
Rex, a 3-year-old wallaby, wandered away from the Lots of Love Farm in Williamstown after a gate was allegedly left unlatched overnight.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
31 Dec. 2025
-
Advertisement Stafford depressurized the cockpit, matching the vacuum inside to the vacuum outside so that the hatch would not blow open and fly free from interior air pressure when it was unlatched.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The video unleashed a flood of tips, NBC News reported.—
Theresa Braine,
New York Daily News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
In response, her government unleashed a brutal and bloody crackdown that only galvanized the movement and brought more people onto the streets.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The singer-songwriter was among several celebrities whose messages appeared in unsealed court documents related to the case.—
Sarah Jones,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
-
In November, an unsealed grand jury indictment revealed Wedding faced charges related to the shooting death of a federal witness in Colombia last January.—
Alex Andrejev,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The state recently loosened its reliance on the American Bar Association for law-school accreditation and is working with other red states to build its own alternative regional accreditor, the Commission for Public Higher Education.—
Garrett Shanley,
Miami Herald,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Los Angeles loosened conversion rules, allowing commercial buildings just 15 years old to become housing with streamlined city approvals instead of lengthy reviews.—
Roger Vincent,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Key Venezuelan opposition figure Juan Pablo Guanipa was arrested by heavily armed men on Sunday night, his supporters said, just hours after he had been released from a jail where he was held as a political prisoner.—
Diego Mendoza,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
-
According to a statement released by Bad Bunny’s publicist, the couple had first invited Bad Bunny to attend their wedding but were instead invited to be part of the Apple Music halftime show performance.—
Andrea Flores,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
In May, a fisherman fell into the water and drowned after the seat on his bass boat became unbolted.—
Tanasia Kenney,
Miami Herald,
6 June 2024
-
In a press event Thursday evening, Tesla's somewhat oddly attired Elon Musk showed how the the company's Tesla S luxury sedan could be recharged in just 90 seconds, hovering over a robotic setup in which the battery would be automatically located, unbolted, removed, and replaced.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
3 Mar. 2023
Adjective
-
The decidedly cognizant, braggadocious front half gives way to unbarred perspective into a darker moment during Miller’s journey with drug abuse.—
Billboard Staff,
Billboard,
26 Nov. 2019
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With unbarred views of the sea, the infinity pool also clocks in at 5 feet deep, shallow enough to stand and perfect for those not wanting to get their hair wet.—
Melanie Reffes,
USA TODAY,
20 Feb. 2018
Adjective
-
Flexible layouts adapt apps to the unfolded screen, making multitasking feel more natural.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The retelling of how that night and the chaotic days that followed unfolded is based on a historical review of unclassified government documents, archived news articles, books, interviews with researchers, and more.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
28 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unlocked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlocked. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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