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

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for open sesame
Noun
  • Rebecca Minkoff Darren Leather Shoulder Bag Stash away your phone, wallet, keys, and lip gloss in this on-sale leather shoulder bag.
    Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 31 Oct. 2025
  • The women’s restroom was locked and a key was not available, a co-owner told inspectors.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • No one won the jackpot on Monday, but three tickets in New York matched five numbers to win $1 million each.
    Ray Padilla, Louisville Courier Journal, 26 Oct. 2025
  • How much is a Powerball lottery ticket today?
    Chris Sims, IndyStar, 26 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The arch, similar to Paris's iconic Arc de Triomphe, would serve as a gateway to Washington while entering via the Arlington Memorial Bridge from Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
    Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 29 Oct. 2025
  • The Museum of Art and Design at Miami-Dade College, which has made its home in the historic landmark since 2012, returns with a new art exhibition tying into the building’s legacy as a gateway for migration.
    Douglas Markowitz, Miami Herald, 28 Oct. 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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Cite this Entry

“Open sesame.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/open%20sesame. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.

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