skeleton key
noun
plural skeleton keys
: a key with a large part of the bit filed away to enable it to open low quality locks as a master key
called also passkey
Examples of skeleton key in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The right setting acts as a skeleton key.
—
Kevin Sintumuang, Outside, 10 Mar. 2026
Evans, a surefire Hall of Famer, is the skeleton key that can unlock the whole scheme.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2026
That’s what makes a skeleton key truly magical.
—Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 30 Jan. 2026
Rather than have Nick Emmanwori bounce between safety and nickel, the Seahawks have exclusively used him closer to the line of scrimmage as a rookie, and his play from that spot has been a skeleton key that’s helped unlock Seattle’s entire defense.
—Robert Mays, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2026
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Kevin Sintumuang, Outside, 10 Mar. 2026
Evans, a surefire Hall of Famer, is the skeleton key that can unlock the whole scheme.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2026
That’s what makes a skeleton key truly magical.
—Gail Mitchell, Billboard, 30 Jan. 2026
Rather than have Nick Emmanwori bounce between safety and nickel, the Seahawks have exclusively used him closer to the line of scrimmage as a rookie, and his play from that spot has been a skeleton key that’s helped unlock Seattle’s entire defense.
—Robert Mays, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for skeleton key
Cite this Entry
“Skeleton key.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skeleton%20key. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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