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
That good fortune didn’t unlock the Powerball vault, which will be up to $348 million for Saturday’s drawing, or the Florida Lotto top prize.
—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
25 June 2026
The Lakers’ deal almost certainly contributed to Madison Square Garden Sports’ plans to explore separating the Knicks and Rangers into their own public companies, continuing a long history of the Dolan family splicing up their business empire to unlock shareholder value.
—
Kurt Badenhausen,
Sportico.com,
9 June 2026
And even with some additional lean, squat, or pitch versus the supercar stability of the R1, the R2’s suspension and steering unlock more confidence while unleashing all 656 hp.
—
ArsTechnica,
9 June 2026
Huang’s campaign tried and ultimately failed to receive matching funds from the city, whereas Raman’s campaign unlocked the maximum allowed, $1.25 million.
—
Noah Goldberg,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unlock
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
25 June 2026
The Lakers’ deal almost certainly contributed to Madison Square Garden Sports’ plans to explore separating the Knicks and Rangers into their own public companies, continuing a long history of the Dolan family splicing up their business empire to unlock shareholder value.
—
Kurt Badenhausen,
Sportico.com,
9 June 2026
And even with some additional lean, squat, or pitch versus the supercar stability of the R1, the R2’s suspension and steering unlock more confidence while unleashing all 656 hp.
—
ArsTechnica,
9 June 2026
Huang’s campaign tried and ultimately failed to receive matching funds from the city, whereas Raman’s campaign unlocked the maximum allowed, $1.25 million.
—
Noah Goldberg,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for unlock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unlock
Verb
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In Tennessee, a pickup truck carrying about 1 million bees overturned near Knoxville in April, unleashing a swarm that blanketed the crash scene.
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In contrast to missteps domestically, Starmer has won praise for his international role, notably in rallying European support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion, and working to mitigate the economic and political turmoil unleashed by the Iran conflict.
Verb
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Add enough of the measured water to loosen the mixture and form a sauce; fluid but not runny is the key.
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The board also had to grant a request to loosen zoning rules, called a variance, to allow for six housing units — which is a few more than would normally be allowed on a lot of its size — and make the project possible.
Verb
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Linda Parisi, Blake Rakela’s defense attorney, has asked the court to set bail and allow her client to be released while the criminal case proceeds.
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As of Monday, the father was treated and released from a hospital, where his 11-year-old remained in stable condition.
Cite this Entry
“Unlock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlock. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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