open sesames

plural of open sesame
as in keys
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

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for open sesames
Noun
  • Jonny Greenwood’s score moves between soaring strings and dissonant piano keys, alternately soothing and anxious; a few pieces composed by Jon Brion add an ambient layer of wistfulness.
    Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 26 Sep. 2025
  • The two side pockets are deep enough to carry my phone and keys without looking too bulky, which is convenient for running into a store or workout class.
    Jacqueline Tempera, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Valley Metro will recognize the event tickets as valid light rail fare on the day of the event for four hours prior to the start of the event through the end of the transit day.
    Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 25 Sep. 2025
  • More than 380,000 other Powerball tickets sold in the United States also won prizes ranging from $4 to $150,000, the lottery said.
    Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The typhoon and expected backlogs follow a strong August for China’s top ports, with the Shanghai and Ningbo gateways recording their highest-ever monthly container throughput throughout the month despite the massive trade shifts.
    Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 24 Sep. 2025
  • Ports like Southampton, Civitavecchia and Le Havre serve as gateways to London, Rome and Paris, yet all require lengthy transfers that can easily eat up half your day ashore.
    David Nikel, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • What are processing times for US passports?
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Staffers have rounded up passports.
    Alec Lewis, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
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.

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“Open sesames.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/open%20sesames. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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