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release

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noun

1
as in discharge
a freeing from an obligation or responsibility because they had legally declared bankruptcy, they received release from their debt

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
as in waiver
a document containing a declaration of an intentional giving up of a right, claim, or privilege we had to sign a liability release before they'd let us go rock climbing on their property

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb release differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of release are emancipate, free, liberate, and manumit. While all these words mean "to set loose from restraint or constraint," release suggests a setting loose from confinement, restraint, or a state of pressure or tension, often without implication of permanent liberation.

released his anger on a punching bag

In what contexts can emancipate take the place of release?

The meanings of emancipate and release largely overlap; however, emancipate implies the liberation of a person from subjection or domination.

labor-saving devices emancipated us from household drudgery

When would free be a good substitute for release?

The words free and release can be used in similar contexts, but free implies a usually permanent removal from whatever binds, confines, entangles, or oppresses.

freed the animals from their cages

When might liberate be a better fit than release?

While in some cases nearly identical to release, liberate stresses particularly the resulting state of liberty.

liberated their country from the tyrant

When is manumit a more appropriate choice than release?

Although the words manumit and release have much in common, manumit implies emancipation from slavery.

the document manumitted the slaves

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 release
Verb
In the '90s and early aughts, Seely released several more solo albums, including a Christmas album in 1994 called Number One Christmas. Lauren Huff Published, EW.com, 2 Aug. 2025 American Eagle released a campaign starring the exceedingly charismatic actress Sydney Sweeney. Leah Asmelash, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2025
Noun
On Wednesday, July 30, USS George Washington spokesperson Lieutenant Commander Mark Langford told PEOPLE that the search for the missing sailor — identified as Aviation Boatswain’s Mate (Launch/Recovery Equipment) Airman Jose Antonio Rivera Lynch IV, per a release — had been suspended. Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 2 Aug. 2025 Netgear’s latest release is the Orbi 370 Series, an entry-level, dual-band Wi-Fi 7 mesh. Julian Chokkattu, Wired News, 2 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for release
Recent Examples of Synonyms for release
Verb
  • But that would be nothing compared to the hell that might’ve been unleashed within other clubs had Garber acquiesced.
    Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 26 July 2025
  • Five Nights at Freddy's 2 sees Mike and Abby reuniting with the haunted animatronics, unleashing new horrors.
    Allison DeGrushe Published, EW.com, 25 July 2025
Verb
  • The raptor stayed on top of her, even as the woman’s partner tried to free her.
    Joshua Rapp Learn, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 July 2025
  • And, of course, using social media less could also free up more time for parents to spend playing with their kids.
    Kara Alaimo, CNN Money, 13 July 2025
Verb
  • The courage to do so calls for finding ways to liberate yourself from the inside out when pushing against external structures—whether that be pushback from friends or family who might criticize you for pursuing your desires to systems that weren’t set up to support you to succeed.
    Holly Corbett, Forbes.com, 28 July 2025
  • What happened to Edward and Fritz Niland after the war ended? Edward was found alive in a Japanese POW camp in Rangoon and liberated on May 4, 1945.
    Emily Krauser, People.com, 24 July 2025
Verb
  • The teaser reintroduces 12 queens from eight different international versions of the show, from the United States (season 10's Yuhua Hamasaki returns) all the way to five cast members from the Filipino edition.
    EW.com, EW.com, 29 July 2025
  • Ridley Scott cast him in 2008’s Body of Lies opposite Leonardo DiCaprio and Russell Crowe.
    Jake Kanter, Deadline, 29 July 2025
Verb
  • Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department Chief Chris Bailey announced an effort to create his department's new strategic plan in April.
    Jade Jackson, IndyStar, 24 July 2025
  • General Motors announced on Tuesday that while the company beat earnings, second-quarter profits dropped, including a $1.1 billion hit from import taxes.
    Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 23 July 2025
Verb
  • Jaylen Wright fumbled on a hit from safety John Saunders Jr.... Grayson Murphy sacked Wilson, who nevertheless threw the ball to Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for a 30 yard TD pass...
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 2 Aug. 2025
  • Outside of a fumble on the opening kick return, Stuard was active, near the ball and showed great closing speed when sacking Lance in the first half.
    Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The Borrower Defense to Repayment program allows borrowers to request a discharge of their federal student loans if their school engaged in certain kinds of misconduct, such as misrepresenting key statistics about admissions selectivity or employment prospects.
    Adam S. Minsky, Forbes.com, 24 July 2025
  • Khanna described growing support for a discharge petition that would force the issue to the House floor.
    Sacha Pfeiffer, NPR, 23 July 2025
Noun
  • But some climate experts and activists in the state, where the vast majority of the coast line is at high risk of erosion and sea level rise, say that such a waiver could place some of New Jersey’s most economically vulnerable residents in harm’s way.
    New York Times, New York Times, 23 July 2025
  • Nations that proactively negotiate visa waivers and nurture reciprocal agreements continue to rise, while the opposite applies to those that are less engaged in such efforts.
    Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Release.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/release. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.

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