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release

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noun

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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

Examples 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
President-elect Donald Trump wasted no time releasing his picks for Cabinet positions, choosing a range of disruptors, loyalists, and prominent names. Andi Shae Napier, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 29 Nov. 2024 Branch just released the Ergonomic Chair Pro, which supposedly improves on the original in several ways. Julian Chokkattu, WIRED, 29 Nov. 2024
Noun
Jonathan Quiles, of the Medford Fire Department, set a fire in a wooded area on Mount Vernon Avenue in Medford on Tuesday afternoon, Suffolk County police alleged in a news release. Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024 Most inmates in Minnesota serve two-thirds of their prison sentence incarcerated and the remaining third on supervised release. Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 12 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for release 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for release
Verb
  • Thus, we are dropped into Numidia, a colony in Northern Africa circa 196 A.D., where a young man named Lucius (Paul Mescal) is about to unleash hell on the Roman navy.
    David Fear, Rolling Stone, 22 Nov. 2024
  • The storm system unleashed winds the night before that left two people dead and hundreds of thousands without power in Washington state.
    Greg McKenna, Fortune, 21 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Where labor costs are high, even one self-checkout can free up a cashier for other important roles like stocking shelves or providing customer service; duties that, unlike checkouts, haven’t yet been automated.
    Mustafa Khanwala, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
  • Birmingham names new mayor as city settles deal with controversial senior tower More:Michigan teen tied to deputy's killing freed on $10K cash bail, igniting debate on reform Officials evacuated at least 15 of the condo units, Barnett said.
    Bill Laytner, Detroit Free Press, 20 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Indoctrination of a Nation, about Russians living under the Putin regime; and D-Day: 100 Days for Freedom, from Zed Productions, a deep dive into the military campaign that liberated France from the Nazis.
    Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Nov. 2024
  • In the space of a week, Ukraine liberated almost 1,000 square miles, reclaiming nearly the entire region and half of the territories occupied by Russia since the start of the invasion.
    Katya Soldak, Forbes, 19 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Along with Brolin, the ensemble cast for the anthology film includes Josh O’Connor, Kerry Washington, Andrew Scott, Glenn Close, Cailee Spaeny, Mila Kunis, Jeremy Renner, Daryl McCormack, and Thomas Haden Church, along with returning star Daniel Craig.
    Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 22 Nov. 2024
  • The vice president also serves as the president of the Senate, empowered to cast tie-breaking votes.
    Graham Kates, CBS News, 22 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • The two met at the same event several years ago before formally announcing their relationship in May 2023.
    Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2024
  • Polis’ office announced the project – but no price tag – on Friday.
    Katie Langford, The Denver Post, 16 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • The Rams sacked him seven times in their overtime win last Sunday.
    Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024
  • The Titans’ best chance to score was snuffed out near the end of the first half when Mountain View’s Kaitlyn Liddle roared in to sack sophomore quarterback Kelsey Peterson.
    Patrick Saunders, The Denver Post, 2 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • Symptoms of bird flu in humans can include eye redness or discharge, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, diarrhea, vomiting, muscle or body aches, headaches, fatigue, trouble breathing, high fever, pneumonia and seizures, according to medical experts.
    Angelica Stabile, Fox News, 19 Nov. 2024
  • Swimmer’s ear can be pretty uncomfortable: your ear canal fills up with a sticky discharge and may become smelly and painful, explains Hildrew.
    Julia Ries, Outside Online, 14 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • On August 14, 2024, the company's Board of Directors approved a Debt Forgiveness Agreement with a former shareholder, resulting in the waiver of all debt owed to the shareholder.
    Quartz Bot, Quartz, 19 Nov. 2024
  • Ultimately, the environmental benefit allowed Caltrain to receive a waiver by the air quality management district to keep the locomotives in operation.
    Nollyanne Delacruz, The Mercury News, 17 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near release

Cite this Entry

“Release.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/release. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.

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