as in key
something that allows someone to achieve a desired goal
it turned out that a simple "please" was the open sesame for charming the hotel manager into giving us a room with a better view
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Recent Examples of open sesame
As Snider used Dorothy as an open sesame to the closed world of Playboy, so Hefner planned to use Dorothy as the open sesame to the closed world of major motion pictures.
—
Lili Anolik, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
Lili Anolik, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for open sesame
Noun
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Police have identified a suspect in the heist, though no arrests have been made and investigators are working to nail down exactly how the thief might have been able to access her vehicle keys, authorities said.—
Jakob Rodgers,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
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Listening and constantly changing according to need is a key, Vasquez Greenberg says.—
Annemarie Dooling,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.—
USA Today staff,
USA Today,
19 Feb. 2026
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Reservations for free students tickets are still required.—
Ut Community Press,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The series of pictures show men being led through a gateway and down a path.—
Elena Becatoros,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
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Liu said the project will strengthen Peru’s role as a regional trade gateway linking Asia and Latin America and support broader development, including environmental initiatives tied to wetlands and coastal habitats.—
Efrat Lachter,
FOXNews.com,
12 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Open sesame.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/open%20sesame. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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