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
Relevance
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 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
-
Newman took over the keys as the pair swapped vocals, his voice as tender and warm as ever.—
Charisma Madarang,
Rolling Stone,
10 June 2026
-
Modern end-to-end encryption ensures that no third party can access the keys needed for real-time data streams in transit.—
Leonard Lim,
Fortune,
10 June 2026
Noun
-
After years of planning, anticipation, hype and a growing concern over high ticket prices and immigration restrictions, the largest World Cup in history kicks off on Thursday in Mexico City and will run through July 19 across 16 cities in Mexico, the United States and Canada.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
11 June 2026
-
Some of the bigger games, including the kickoff match, the final and matches with popular teams, have VIP tickets and reserved table packages.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
One step up is the $45 monthly Amplify plan, which offers faster speeds and no caps, along with a Wi-Fi 7 gateway.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
8 June 2026
-
Surrounded by mountains, the Inside Passage and the Tongass National Forest, the city is a gateway to whale watching, glacier adventures and rainforest exploration.—
Staff,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Open sesame.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/open%20sesame. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
