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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The key now is to foster stronger intracontinental dialogue—turning these events from mere entry points into active hubs of exchange among artists, institutions, and audiences.—
Smooth Nzewi,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
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Overall, the key is to meet a cat’s natural climbing needs in appropriate ways rather than trying to stop the instinct entirely.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Staffers can arrange transportation, set up beach gear, book tickets, and everything in between.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 Apr. 2026
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Hochheiser’s ticket out of Villa Rosa was COVID.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Your entryway is the gateway between the outside world and your personal space.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
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Detroit's role in the Underground Railroad is being brought to life for a new generation while highlighting the city's place as a critical gateway to freedom for thousands fleeing slavery.—
Rachelle Graham,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Open sesame.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/open%20sesame. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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