unleash

verb

un·​leash ˌən-ˈlēsh 

unleashed; unleashing; unleashes

transitive verb

1

: to free from or as if from a leash : let loose

unleash the dogs

unleashing his anger

2

: to throw, shoot, or set in motion forcefully

… unleashed a superb shot … to earn his side a point.

—The New York Times

3

: to allow or cause (something powerful) to happen suddenly

The storm unleashed its fury.

The editorial unleashed a flood/torrent of angry responses.

Synonyms of unleash

• loosen
• release
• unlock

Examples of unleash in a Sentence

The storm unleashed its fury.

The editorial unleashed a torrent of angry responses.

Recent Examples on the Web

Nolo will unleash bands of intense showers and thunderstorms onto the Big Island of Hawaii on Friday night, and periods of heavy rain will continue across Maui County over the weekend. — Marlene Lenthang, NBC news, 26 Sep. 2026

Instead, my plan is to unleash an AI bot to chat with Verizon's AI bot the next time. — Joe Kinsey Outkick, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2026

In April, Collins unleashed multiple fronts of attack at a news conference, handing out a 13-page dossier covering past Donalds associates, stock trades and votes in Congress. — Michael Van Sickler, Sun Sentinel, 23 Sep. 2026

From SheetsGate to purposefully washing Joy’s uniforms with rags, the laundry room has unleashed something deranged in Gen. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1671, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for unleash

• pastiche
• leash
• quiche

Kids Definition

unleash

verb

un·​leash ˌən-ˈlēsh 

: to free from or as if from a leash

unleash a dog

the storm unleashed its fury