as in certainties
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 locks
People Staff, PEOPLE, 3 June 2026
Gomez donned her go-to rich chocolate locks while posing backstage in an Elizabethan-style dress and taking photos on a bridge with the London Eye and Big Ben in the background.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 3 June 2026
The locks to the maintenance garage appeared to be cut, and two golf carts were missing.
—Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 2 June 2026
Spears, who in recent years has been styling her platinum blonde mane in wavy locks, opted for a sleek, straight look.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 2 June 2026
With Brown now aboard, Douglas and Chism might be competing for one spot on the roster if Brown, Doubs, Boutte, Hollins and Williams are all viewed as locks.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 2 June 2026
The practical result is that employees know their jobs may be at risk before the final decision is made, before the laptop locks and well before the journalist DM their inboxes.
—Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
The former Dolphins standout joins a lineup at the position that also features Courtland Sutton, Pat Bryant, Franklin and Mims as locks to make the roster as it is currently constructed.
—Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Last June 16, armed immigration agents broke the locks to forcibly enter an Oxnard auto body shop.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2026
Noun
Kerry Washington makes a chic appearance in a long wavy locks and a camel skirt co-ord at the screening and Q&A for Django Unchained in Los Angeles on May 29.
—People Staff, PEOPLE, 3 June 2026
Gomez donned her go-to rich chocolate locks while posing backstage in an Elizabethan-style dress and taking photos on a bridge with the London Eye and Big Ben in the background.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 3 June 2026
The locks to the maintenance garage appeared to be cut, and two golf carts were missing.
—Anne Gelhaus, Mercury News, 2 June 2026
Spears, who in recent years has been styling her platinum blonde mane in wavy locks, opted for a sleek, straight look.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 2 June 2026
With Brown now aboard, Douglas and Chism might be competing for one spot on the roster if Brown, Doubs, Boutte, Hollins and Williams are all viewed as locks.
—Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 2 June 2026
The practical result is that employees know their jobs may be at risk before the final decision is made, before the laptop locks and well before the journalist DM their inboxes.
—Alexander Puutio, Forbes.com, 27 May 2026
The former Dolphins standout joins a lineup at the position that also features Courtland Sutton, Pat Bryant, Franklin and Mims as locks to make the roster as it is currently constructed.
—Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 27 May 2026
Last June 16, armed immigration agents broke the locks to forcibly enter an Oxnard auto body shop.
—Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 26 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for locks
Verb
-
In a TikTok video, Eve promotes this $15 safety device that easily latches onto the strike plate of any door.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Bad things happen when an AI chatbot latches onto one of your neuroses.—
Frank Landymore,
Futurism,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After your next meeting, stay on for two minutes after the agenda wraps.—
Sarah Hernholm,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
Each year, around Christmas time, my family wraps gifts.—
Sophia Rey,
JSTOR Daily,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
To address this, Ivo uses a multi-step pipeline that chains together more than 400 model calls for each contract review.—
Charlie Fink,
Forbes.com,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Tokyo Central is owned by Japanese company Pan Pacific Retail Management, which also runs the grocery chains Gelson’s and Don Quijote.—
John Metcalfe,
Mercury News,
3 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
One dancer folds their body, slowly easing their way to the ground, while the others watch.—
Steven Vargas,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
Those guest cabins can be built as doubles, twins, or a single with a Pullman bed that folds away to create space for a drop-down desk or vanity.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Related Stories Speaking with Variety on Zoom from her apartment in New York City, Moafi shuts it down without hesitation.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
27 May 2026
-
Some days, Gonce shuts herself in the bathroom, slides to the floor and sobs.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Even so, the Tower of Dimon, sitting at the intersection of finance and real estate, twines itself literally through the physical city, from the train tunnels below to the sidewalk and up to the skyline — and through its urban culture, too.—
Justin Davidson,
Curbed,
12 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
My favorite detail is the red ribbon on Giovanna’s right shoulder, which fastens her sleeve to her dress and floats over the darkness.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Aquazzura’s signature swirling ankle strap curves upward from the sides of the shoe and fastens the 105mm heel with a slim buckle.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
16 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Many travelers choose to explore the area via the Ring of Kerry, the scenic drive that encircles the peninsula.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
29 May 2026
-
The tubing with inline emitters, shown at bottom, encircles a citrus.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Locks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/locks. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
