open 1 of 3

1
as in to unlock
to change from a closed to an open position please open the door to let the cat out

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in to clear
to make passage through (something) possible by removing obstructions we need to open this drain that's clogged with hair

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3
as in to expand
to arrange the parts of (something) over a wider area when we got too close, the cardinal opened its wings and flew to a higher branch

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

4
as in to free
to rid the surface of (as an area) from things in the way snowplows opened the runway without much trouble

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

5

open

2 of 3

adjective

1
2
as in public
freely available for use or participation by all the lanes at the bowling alley will be open during the afternoon, but will be available only for league play in the evening

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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9

open

3 of 3

noun

as in wilderness
that part of the physical world that is removed from human habitation a daguerreotype of a cowboy whose face is roughened from a hard life in the open

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective open contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of open are exposed, liable, prone, sensitive, subject, and susceptible. While all these words mean "being by nature or through circumstances likely to experience something adverse," open stresses a lack of barriers preventing incurrence.

a claim open to question

When could exposed be used to replace open?

The words exposed and open can be used in similar contexts, but exposed suggests lack of protection or powers of resistance against something actually present or threatening.

exposed to infection

When can liable be used instead of open?

While in some cases nearly identical to open, liable implies a possibility or probability of incurring something because of position, nature, or particular situation.

liable to get lost

When would prone be a good substitute for open?

While the synonyms prone and open are close in meaning, prone stresses natural tendency or propensity to incur something.

prone to delay

When might sensitive be a better fit than open?

The words sensitive and open are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, sensitive implies a readiness to respond to or be influenced by forces or stimuli.

unduly sensitive to criticism

When is subject a more appropriate choice than open?

In some situations, the words subject and open are roughly equivalent. However, subject implies an openness for any reason to something that must be suffered or undergone.

all reports are subject to review

When is it sensible to use susceptible instead of open?

The meanings of susceptible and open largely overlap; however, susceptible implies conditions existing in one's nature or individual constitution that make incurrence probable.

very susceptible to flattery

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of open
Verb
Once the parents open the account, the teen can learn how to invest firsthand by managing the account, along with their parents' oversight. Kelsey Neubauer, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2025 In a letter to camp families Monday, Camp Mystic officials detailed plans to partially open next summer. Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
When camping in an open environment, select a campsite in a valley, ravine, or low region. Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 27 Sep. 2025 Items Made of Quality Materials Stephanie Wells recommends not getting distracted by looking for a particular type of item while thrifting but instead keeping your eyes open to a number of quality materials. Sarah Lyon, Southern Living, 27 Sep. 2025
Noun
Her marital strife was so out in the open that Offset released a song complaining about his superstar wife preferring Nobu to cooking. Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025 Tencent's recent open-sourcing of two world-class platforms serves as a prime example. Vivian Toh, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for open
Recent Examples of Synonyms for open
Verb
  • Now 46, Wray has unlocked the sort of creative liberation that artists with decades-long tenures can often struggle to reach.
    Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 24 Sep. 2025
  • The hope among proponents is that a successful demonstration, combined with falling launch costs and improved autonomy, will unlock later economies of scale.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Anti-sabotage checks were carried out before the aircraft was cleared for its next flight.
    Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 23 Sep. 2025
  • Rebooting clears the cache and restores normal upload and download speeds.
    Roxanne Downer, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Xi promised that within a decade, China will expand wind and solar power capacity to more than six times its 2020 level.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2025
  • The bags contain lightweight material that absorb water and expands and can be stacked just like regular bags, as can the barriers which come in a variety of lengths.
    Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The organization takes care of the back-end logistics, from payroll and setting tuition to lobbying state legislators and navigating local zoning laws, freeing educators to concentrate on their craft.
    Preston Fore, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2025
  • The kitten was freed from the tire unharmed and reunited with his family.
    Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Like Nabers, Beckham played college football for the LSU Tigers, and like Nabers, Beckham began his NFL career as a first-round draft pick for the Giants.
    Matt Audilet, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Sep. 2025
  • The show is a campy, 1980s-style whodunit that begins with the funeral of a famous singer.
    Nathan Diller, USA Today, 29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Our real estate data comes from public records that have been registered and digitized by local county offices.
    Bay Area Home Report, Mercury News, 27 Sep. 2025
  • That valuation is akin to an initial public offering stock price.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • American officials have previously warned the algorithm that fuels what users see on the app is vulnerable to manipulation by Chinese authorities, who can use it to shape content on the platform in a way that’s difficult to detect.
    Chris Megerian, Fortune, 22 Sep. 2025
  • Immigrants are already vulnerable to other forms of abuse, particularly from landlords or employers.
    Sam Tabachnik, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Yet Chaeyoung has resisted them, grounding herself in memories that took root in childhood and continuing an honest dialogue with her inner self ever since her debut.
    Billboard Korea, Billboard, 22 Sep. 2025
  • Dodgers manager Dave Roberts is honest about where Kim stands as his rookie season winds down and the postseason looms.
    Bill Plunkett, Oc Register, 22 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Open.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/open. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.

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