lock 1 of 2

lock

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noun

as in certainty
one that is certain to succeed the governor is regarded as a lock for his party's presidential nomination

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 lock
Verb
Mahomes had his head turned toward the opposite side of the field, so Rice sprinted into a shallow cross to meet him there — long enough to finally lock eyes. Kansas City Star, 28 Oct. 2025 But optimism over easing trade tensions between Washington and Beijing, as well as a rebound in the US dollar, prompted investors to lock in profits. John Liu, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
Even if those problems can be overcome, breaking China’s lock on rare earths may take another decade or even longer. Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 10 Nov. 2025 That doesn't mean that the Patriots didn't attempt to buy, though, especially considering that New England is 8-2 and seems like a lock to make the playoffs at this point. Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lock
Verb
  • In the absence of whales, sucker fish avoid predators by seeking other large creatures to latch onto, including manta rays, dolphins and unlucky scuba divers.
    CNN Money, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
  • This sent Teddy down a rabbit hole of Internet conspiracy theories that ultimately led to him latching onto the idea that Michelle is an alien-in-disguise from the Andromeda galaxy who was sent to Earth as part of a plot to wipe out humanity.
    Megan McCluskey, Time, 31 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Every day, Hsieh was photographed by his friend, and the photos, which are wrapped around the gallery, show his facial expression fixed from week to week, month to month—relaxed and blank.
    Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 7 Nov. 2025
  • The trousers included a belt wrapped around the hips, with knee tucks and vertical front darts to complete the design.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 7 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Erling Haaland’s extraordinary goal output aside, the old certainties have been missing.
    Oliver Kay, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Unlike a seventh victory of the season, a 955th catch while wearing a Chargers lightning bolt on the sides of his helmet seems almost like a certainty.
    Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • To the dismay of many beer fans, Sapporo, which owned Anchor Brewing, shut it down in 2023 ending a run of almost 50 years of releasing its annual Christmas Ale (not to mention the iconic Anchor Steam Ale).
    Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 5 Nov. 2025
  • The cubes work by simply filling them up with clothes, zipping them shut, then using the middle zipper to compress clothes down to a much smaller package.
    Erin Cavoto, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Even small acts—sharing a song, looking at a family photo or folding laundry together—can anchor the relationship.
    Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 5 Nov. 2025
  • Remove from heat and fold in basil.
    Francesca Giuliani Hoffman, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • That said, the case is not a slam dunk at all, says conservative scholar Jonathan Adler, of William and Mary Law School.
    Nina Totenberg, NPR, 5 Nov. 2025
  • The Tar Heels went ahead by eight points on a slam dunk by Worthy and a pair of Jordan free throws with about a minute to play.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • There are glimpses of a backstage farce, with Nora trying to use a quickie with her married stage-manager lover (longtime Trier regular Anders Danielsen Lie) to quell a panic attack on opening night, then threatening to bolt.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 7 Nov. 2025
  • Parsley leaves also turn bitter after bolting.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 1 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • In the vein of Jim Ford and Tony Joe White, East’s voice is fully formed here, twining country rootstock with soul and gospel so tightly that the traditions feel inseparable, and rightly so.
    Will Hermes, Rolling Stone, 24 June 2025
  • At his best, McCann does an assiduous, subtle job of twining his metaphors through everyday life.
    Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 19 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lock. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.

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