1
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
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Recent Examples of lock
Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 23 Feb. 2026
At the time, a sheriff's deputy told Gray to lock up his firearms.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
Elycia Rubin, HollywoodReporter, 6 Mar. 2026
Pushing down the bottom edge of the plastic door releases the lock and the lid opens to accept a Compact Disc.
—New Atlas, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lock
Verb
If time permits, lock your home upon departure and disconnect utilities and appliances.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 23 Feb. 2026
At the time, a sheriff's deputy told Gray to lock up his firearms.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026
Noun
The male actors’ locks took quite a beating during filming.
—Elycia Rubin, HollywoodReporter, 6 Mar. 2026
Pushing down the bottom edge of the plastic door releases the lock and the lid opens to accept a Compact Disc.
—New Atlas, 6 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lock
Verb
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Epibionts — barnacles, algae, other marine organisms — latch onto a turtle’s shell and body.—
Ryan Brennan,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Mar. 2026
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Once a sea turtle begins to struggle, the barnacles and algae that latch onto its shell compound the problem.—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Our secret is using banana cream instant pudding in the filling to recreate that signature Hummingbird flavor, plus a good springform pan and some foil wrapped around it for extra insurance while baking it in a water bath.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026
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The humidity wraps around us like a wet cloak pierced only by the relentlessness of the mosquitoes.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Historical paintings don’t come with certificates; experts are increasingly hesitant to express complete certainty, for fear of litigation or reputational damage should they be proven wrong.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
9 Mar. 2026
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In the maelstrom of modern war, presumed certainties crumble like piecrust.—
George F. Will,
Washington Post,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Saudi Arabia temporarily shut its Ras Tanura oil refinery, one of the world’s largest, after a drone strike.—
Robin Wright,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
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Emirates has been forced to cancel thousands of flights as retaliatory strikes from Iran led the UAE to shut its airspace.—
Angus Whitley,
Bloomberg,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The skills could include tasks such as folding boxes, assembling components, or even manipulating objects, activities that still remain challenging for many robotic systems.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Mar. 2026
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Stir to combine, then fold in the black beans.—
Kelly McCarthy,
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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McDonald's newest Happy Meal is sure to be a slam dunk with Crocs fans.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
10 Mar. 2026
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And the research on what either can do for sleep, particularly in those with run-of-the-mill insomnia, is far from a slam dunk.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Heat also stresses the plant and can cause bolting.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
7 Mar. 2026
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At the rate business was humming along, ValenSil was on track to bolt on a third shift, add about eight to 15 more workers, and even purchase land for further expansion.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Plant the vine next to a trellis, tree trunk, or open framework to give stems support for twining.—
Zoe Gowen,
Southern Living,
8 Mar. 2026
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Moore recently dropped the Bing & Ruth alias for a duo album with Steve Gunn, unadorned piano and acoustic guitar twining like lithe green vines.—
Philip Sherburne,
Pitchfork,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lock. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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