Synonyms of open sesame

open sesame

noun

ˌō-pən-ˈse-sə-mē 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• key
• ticket
• gateway
• passport
• secret
• approach
• way
• success
• means
• method
• triumph
• coup
• technique
• system
• attainment
• achievement
• password
• plan
• style
• design
• strategy
• accomplishment
• program
• blueprint
• manner
• ground plan
• scheme

Example Sentences

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