lock 1 of 2

lock

2 of 2

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
Scarlett Johansson Scarlett Johansson is raising eyebrows after locking lips with a costar. Jay Stahl, USA Today, 19 June 2025 Prosecutors asked he be locked up because of his record and his ties to Saudi Arabia. John Annese, New York Daily News, 18 June 2025
Noun
The only active pitchers besides Kershaw considered Hall of Fame locks are Justin Verlander and Scherzer, both hard throwers with the requisite strikeout totals. Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025 The battery is mounted to the body and then twisted – one notch to engage a child lock and ensure your youngster doesn't accidentally engage the powerful cutting machine, and another twist to engage battery power. New Atlas, 2 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for lock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lock
Verb
  • Senate Republicans are latching onto the political theater narrative.
    Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 13 June 2025
  • One of the most bizarre and funniest responses to the breakup, and one which was latched onto by every late night TV host, came from Kanye West.
    Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 6 June 2025
Verb
  • Compression: Another way to keep the swelling and inflammation is wrapping your calf.
    Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 19 June 2025
  • The cost of pharmaceuticals has become prohibitive to patients and providers like hospitals, and the huge cost of advertising is wrapped into those costs.
    Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 June 2025
Noun
  • At the heart of this evolution is a core tension: leverage versus certainty.
    Spencer Dorn, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
  • Some might find the introduction of a major conflict — when a different date turns nightmarish for Sophie, causing Lucy to question her certainties about what makes a good match and berate herself for failing to spot red flags — to be a heavy-handed nudge toward a resolution.
    David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 9 June 2025
Verb
  • The animosity is so deep that William has shut the door on Harry.
    Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 8 June 2025
  • Alex Caruso, one of the team’s veterans, was a bench guy, until he was tasked with defending Nikola Jokić during the Thunder’s series against the Denver Nuggets, and did about as good a job as anyone has ever done of shutting Jokić down.
    Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 8 June 2025
Verb
  • This crank operates smoothly with no catching, and the umbrella opens and closes with no manual adjustments needed for the canopy to fold in or out.
    Sandi Schwartz, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 June 2025
  • Waiting in line in a folding chair at the Alondra Church of Christ, Ramirez said her family was visiting from San Jose, but had left her house to buy gardening tools when they were detained by ICE.
    Pamela Avila, USA Today, 11 June 2025
Noun
  • James hasn’t signed on for next season yet, and maybe this change of ownership changes what once appeared to be a slam dunk.
    Bill Plaschke, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025
  • Non-athletes are increasingly looking to creatine, though the results here aren’t a slam dunk.
    Cindy Kuzma, SELF, 28 May 2025
Verb
  • Compliance By Design: Don’t bolt on risk reviews at the end.
    Abhishek Gandotra, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
  • Meanwhile, Guy has, of course, bolted, taking the satchel back to his gang.
    Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 12 June 2025
Verb
  • At his best, McCann does an assiduous, subtle job of twining his metaphors through everyday life.
    Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 19 May 2025
  • Once the cucumbers start to vine, coax the vines to climb the trellis by twining them around the trellis with your fingers and securing them in place, if needed, with plant clips or garden twine.
    Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Lock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lock. Accessed 24 Jun. 2025.

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