as in to free
to set free (as from slavery or confinement)
activists for animal rights who would like to unchain zoo animals and return them to the wild
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Recent Examples of unchain
The nationwide standalone 5G that the carrier announced Wednesday essentially unchains that service from 4G LTE, allowing devices to connect to the network without first requiring a setup via AT&T’s older and slower network.
—
PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2025
When Henson refused to unchain herself from the fence, California Highway Patrol arrested her.
—Kate Talerico, The Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2024
Max eventually unchains himself and helps Furiosa in her quest to free the cult leader's wives, gaining mutual respect along the way.
—Ew Staff, EW.com, 3 July 2024
Van Gogh had unchained it from its age-old funereal associations and reinvented it as a tour de force of emotional connection and nurturance.
—Deborah Solomon, New York Times, 11 May 2023
The Shambala Center would unchain our brains Through mindfulness, yoga, and chanted refrains.
—Nate Anderson, Ars Technica, 1 Apr. 2023
On Wednesday, the rescuers carefully lifted the shed enough to reach Bubbles and unchain the dog.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE.com, 3 Sep. 2021
The feds give an official exemption to Nuro, a company working on small self-driving cars—a sign that regulators are willing to unchain autonomous vehicles from the old rules.
—Aarian Marshall, Wired, 9 Feb. 2020
Police say the three protesters had the ability to unchain themselves from the equipment but refused.
—USA TODAY, 13 Sep. 2019
PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2025
When Henson refused to unchain herself from the fence, California Highway Patrol arrested her.
—Kate Talerico, The Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2024
Max eventually unchains himself and helps Furiosa in her quest to free the cult leader's wives, gaining mutual respect along the way.
—Ew Staff, EW.com, 3 July 2024
Van Gogh had unchained it from its age-old funereal associations and reinvented it as a tour de force of emotional connection and nurturance.
—Deborah Solomon, New York Times, 11 May 2023
The Shambala Center would unchain our brains Through mindfulness, yoga, and chanted refrains.
—Nate Anderson, Ars Technica, 1 Apr. 2023
On Wednesday, the rescuers carefully lifted the shed enough to reach Bubbles and unchain the dog.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE.com, 3 Sep. 2021
The feds give an official exemption to Nuro, a company working on small self-driving cars—a sign that regulators are willing to unchain autonomous vehicles from the old rules.
—Aarian Marshall, Wired, 9 Feb. 2020
Police say the three protesters had the ability to unchain themselves from the equipment but refused.
—USA TODAY, 13 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unchain
Verb
-
But after restructuring the contracts of quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver CeeDee Lamb and offensive lineman Tyler Smith, the team was able to free up $67 million toward the cap in 2026 to get back under the salary cap.—
Nick Harris
March 6,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Doing so would free up $254 million — in a tight budget year — for a $2,500 teacher pay raise, extra school funding, expanded private school tax credits and more, Senate leaders said.—
Nuria Martinez-Keel,
Oklahoma Voice,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Chicago visitors will also see items never before displayed publicly, including a letter Anne’s father, Otto Frank, wrote in 1945, after being liberated from Auschwitz.—
Eva Remijan-Toba,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Mar. 2026
-
The process is prescriptive, but the effect is liberating.—
Emma Madden,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Lesli Boese told the judge Thursday that Casap was too dangerous to ever be released from prison.—
Todd Richmond,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The government released thousands more documents in the decades that followed before establishing AARO to investigate sightings and publish reports.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Within two minutes, Phoenix police arrived at the scene, taking the woman into custody and rescuing the child.—
Sydney Page The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Officials in Farmington Hills said their fire department rescued people who were trapped in their vehicles due to flooding.—
Nick Lentz,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Join MyRecipes—your personal home for recipes—to easily save and organize your favorites, plus thousands more, in one convenient place.—
Josh Miller,
Southern Living,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Michael Collodi saved five shots in his third start for Dallas (1-1-1) this season after making nine last year as a rookie.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
On top of that, there are agents that begin with good intentions but can turn against users and become scammers themselves when users loosen the reins — forcing security companies to adapt in real time to shifting threats.—
Rachyl Jones,
semafor.com,
4 Mar. 2026
-
This basically turns it into a small T-style driver that provides extra leverage for loosening screws or jammed fasteners.—
Maryna Holovnova,
New Atlas,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The actress would go on to struggle with addiction issues and in February 1991, emancipated herself at the age of 14.—
Virginia Chamlee,
PEOPLE,
5 Dec. 2025
-
All the black captives in liberated territories were emancipated, and Amador was proclaimed king.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unchain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unchain. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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