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

The chaos unleashed by the 2011 Arab uprisings gave these and other groups even more room to grow. — Daniel Byman, Foreign Affairs, 8 Sep. 2026

Reuniting much of the cast of his Nosferatu, Robert Eggers unleashes a furry shapeshifter on a 13th-century village. — A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026

Following Napier’s ouster, interim coach Billy Gonzales unleashed Baugh against rival Florida State, which had never allowed a Florida player to rush for so many yards. — Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Sep. 2026

Both sides viewed it as an experiment with little to lose, although no one wanted a collision that would unleash clouds of space debris. — Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 6 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