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
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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
The Shambala Center would unchain our brains Through mindfulness, yoga, and chanted refrains.
—
Nate Anderson,
Ars Technica,
1 Apr. 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
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
The Shambala Center would unchain our brains Through mindfulness, yoga, and chanted refrains.
—
Nate Anderson,
Ars Technica,
1 Apr. 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
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Instead, Meledandri freed filmmakers and animators to make movies about antic antiheroes.
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The group issued a point-by-point analysis of the memorandum, criticizing it for potentially freeing up tens of billions of dollars for Iran without putting sufficient safeguards to ensure the country won’t use the money to fund operations against the United States.
Verb
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Harvard’s research confirms that AI liberates managers from coordination and relay tasks, freeing them for judgment, contextual intelligence, and human connection that no system can replicate.
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He is liberated from the constraints of [Republican leaders like] a Paul Ryan or a Mitch McConnell.
Verb
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The Lexington County Coroner’s Office said an autopsy was planned for Saturday and additional information will be released Monday.
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Los Angeles police Friday released bodycam footage of an officer killing a woman’s pet dog in a case that has sparked outrage and questions.
Verb
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Two roofs collapsed at the Park Place Apartments in the town of Newburgh, trapping a woman who had to be rescued by emergency officials, Wilder said.
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Detectives from Lake County, Illinois, Sheriff's office rescued a girl under 14 from a grown man who had traveled from Georgia to meet her this weekend, authorities said Sunday.
Verb
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According to the Northwestern Mutual survey, nearly three-quarters of Gen Z already have saved more than one year of income toward retirement.
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Clark had a collection of par saves around the turn as Scottie Scheffler was making a move and poured it on with a fairway metal to get within four feet for eagle on the par-five 16th for an even-par 70 that gave him a six-shot lead.
Verb
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Add enough of the measured water to loosen the mixture and form a sauce; fluid but not runny is the key.
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The board also had to grant a request to loosen zoning rules, called a variance, to allow for six housing units — which is a few more than would normally be allowed on a lot of its size — and make the project possible.
Verb
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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.
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The long shadow of the occupation Twenty-three years after George Bush and Tony Blair resolved that Iraqis were to be emancipated, the country remains captive to a masquerade of power.
Cite this Entry
“Unchain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unchain. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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