unseal

verb

un·​seal ˌən-ˈsēl How to pronounce unseal (audio)
unsealed; unsealing; unseals
Synonyms of unsealnext

transitive verb

: to break or remove the seal of : open

Examples of unseal in a Sentence

The court unsealed the documents in the Douglas trial today.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And the fate of Tommy’s criminal corporation — and who would take over the reins — was also left unsealed. Miriam Balanescu, IndieWire, 5 Mar. 2026 In 2021, San Diego prosecutors unsealed an indictment attributing an explosion of violence in Tijuana to a criminal cell known as Los Cabos, who allegedly acted as a brutal enforcement arm of the CJNG. Alexandra Mendoza, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026 The Justice Department unsealed an indictment charging 30 more people Friday, also under the FACE Act, bringing the total charged to 39. Mara H. Gottfried, Twin Cities, 27 Feb. 2026 Robert Bibbs, 24, of Chicago, advised Mack and Schaefer about how to kill Mack’s mother, according to a criminal complaint unsealed in federal court in Chicago. Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unseal

Word History

First Known Use

12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unseal was in the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unseal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unseal. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

unseal

verb
un·​seal ˌən-ˈsē(ə)l How to pronounce unseal (audio)
ˈən-
: to break or remove the seal of

More from Merriam-Webster on unseal

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