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release

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noun

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as in discharge
a freeing from an obligation or responsibility because they had legally declared bankruptcy, they received release from their debt

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in waiver
a document containing a declaration of an intentional giving up of a right, claim, or privilege we had to sign a liability release before they'd let us go rock climbing on their property

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb release differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of release are emancipate, free, liberate, and manumit. While all these words mean "to set loose from restraint or constraint," release suggests a setting loose from confinement, restraint, or a state of pressure or tension, often without implication of permanent liberation.

released his anger on a punching bag

In what contexts can emancipate take the place of release?

The meanings of emancipate and release largely overlap; however, emancipate implies the liberation of a person from subjection or domination.

labor-saving devices emancipated us from household drudgery

When would free be a good substitute for release?

The words free and release can be used in similar contexts, but free implies a usually permanent removal from whatever binds, confines, entangles, or oppresses.

freed the animals from their cages

When might liberate be a better fit than release?

While in some cases nearly identical to release, liberate stresses particularly the resulting state of liberty.

liberated their country from the tyrant

When is manumit a more appropriate choice than release?

Although the words manumit and release have much in common, manumit implies emancipation from slavery.

the document manumitted the slaves

Examples of release in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The surge follows the album’s two deluxe reissues released in the week ending Oct. 17. Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 24 Oct. 2024 The 17-year-old was charged with Assault 4th and released to a parent at the direction of the Juvenile Courts. Becca Longmire, People.com, 24 Oct. 2024
Noun
Last week, about 20 Menendez family members gathered outside the Clara Shortridge Foltz Criminal Justice Center in downtown Los Angeles and rallied in support for the brothers’ release from prison. Phil Helsel, NBC News, 25 Oct. 2024 The news comes about 10 months after the release of Cudi’s most recent album, Insano, which bowed at No. 13 on the Billboard 200. Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 25 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for release 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'release.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Thesaurus Entries Near release

Cite this Entry

“Release.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/release. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on release

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