UNCHAIN Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

unchain

verb

ˌən-ˈchān

Definition of unchain

as in to free

to set free (as from slavery or confinement) activists for animal rights who would like to unchain zoo animals and return them to the wild

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 unchain The nationwide standalone 5G that the carrier announced Wednesday essentially unchains that service from 4G LTE, allowing devices to connect to the network without first requiring a setup via AT&T’s older and slower network. — PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2025 When Henson refused to unchain herself from the fence, California Highway Patrol arrested her. — Kate Talerico, The Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2024 Max eventually unchains himself and helps Furiosa in her quest to free the cult leader's wives, gaining mutual respect along the way. — Ew Staff, EW.com, 3 July 2024 Van Gogh had unchained it from its age-old funereal associations and reinvented it as a tour de force of emotional connection and nurturance. — Deborah Solomon, New York Times, 11 May 2023 On Wednesday, the rescuers carefully lifted the shed enough to reach Bubbles and unchain the dog. — Kelli Bender, PEOPLE.com, 3 Sep. 2021 The feds give an official exemption to Nuro, a company working on small self-driving cars—a sign that regulators are willing to unchain autonomous vehicles from the old rules. — Aarian Marshall, Wired, 9 Feb. 2020 Police say the three protesters had the ability to unchain themselves from the equipment but refused. — USA TODAY, 13 Sep. 2019

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unchain

Verb

But also freeing myself from conventions in a day and age of algorithms.

— William Earl, Variety, 24 July 2026
The prosecutor said the high temperatures were over 100 degrees that day as Stout revved his car engine trying to free the Yaris from the berm among very dry grass and vegetation.

— Rosalio Ahumada, Sacbee.com, 24 July 2026

Definition of free

Verb

In summary, liberate your mind from having to be right to embrace finding out what’s true.

— Rey Ramsey, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
He was born in western Ukraine and attended a military school in Kharkiv – the city liberated by Ukrainian forces in 2022 after a brutal Russian occupation early in the war.

— Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 21 July 2026

Definition of liberate

Verb

An Iranian cargo vessel carrying vital supplies needed for medical treatment has been released after being seized by the US and held for 95 days, according to Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency.

— Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
At sunset, everyone will release their lanterns across the water.

— Mary Caldwell, AJC.com, 28 July 2026

Definition of release

Verb

But unlike the scramble to rescue coral babies a few years back, these corals were still perfectly healthy.

— Alex Harris July 23, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026
Keegan not only rescued Newcastle from relegation in 1991-92; the following campaign his team romped to the second-division title and surged into the Premier League.

— James Pearce, New York Times, 22 July 2026

Definition of rescue

Verb

But Gold Phoenix was inside both his main rivals and might have saved just enough ground to make the difference.

— Bill Center, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 July 2026
To save the cost and effort of pumping millions of liters of seawater solely to obtain minerals, the researchers propose bolting modular reactors onto coastal desalination plants, which already move enormous quantities of the stuff.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 27 July 2026

Definition of save

Verb

Briceno recommends anchoring your elbow, loosening your grip, and allowing the brush to do the work.

— Marci Robin, Allure, 24 July 2026
Situational hitting, bunting, sacrifice flies and moving runners over helped loosen the lineup, allowing the power hitters to do their thing without feeling the need to produce in every at-bat.

— Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 24 July 2026

Definition of loosen

Verb

In 1775, his first enslaver sold him to the commander of Framingham's Minute Men, who emancipated him, and Salem went on to fight at Lexington and Concord.

— Catherine Messier, The Providence Journal, 4 July 2026
Finally, David ends the episode with a discussion of Shakespeare’s Othello and how ancient plays can emancipate readers from some of their modern prejudices.

— David Frum, The Atlantic, 17 June 2026

Definition of emancipate

Browse Nearby Words

uncertainty

unchain

unchained

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Unchain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unchain. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of unchain

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

inveigle

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly

Popular in Wordplay

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Games & Quizzes