UNLOAD Synonyms: 81 Similar and Opposite Words

unload

verb

ˌən-ˈlōd

Definition of unload

as in to unpack

to empty or rid of cargo the dockworkers unloaded the ship

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to dump

to get rid of as useless or unwanted I can't seem to unload this old car—even the charities won't take it!

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 unload Wallace lingered in the car for a few minutes once slowing to a stop, though — long enough for health workers to unload a stretcher that Wallace ultimately didn’t use. — Charlotte Observer, 11 Oct. 2026 While traffic has dipped in response, ships continue to cross, with many making shuttle runs in and out of the Gulf to unload oil cargoes via ship-to-ship transfers. — Jason Ma, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026 During Trautman’s visit in the fall of 1942, when matériel was unloaded off the coast of Australia, it was stacked on the beaches, fully exposed to the elements. — Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026 Down the street, metal striking concrete rattles the air as a repairman unloads a ladder. — Kendra Nordin Beato, Christian Science Monitor, 8 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unload

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unload

Verb

Leaders from Germany’s RTL Deutschland unpacked their partnership with YouTube at a Mipcom session.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
There’s plenty to unpack about the troubled relationship between young scuba diver Jay Gardiner (Austin Abrams) and his late father Mitt (Josh Brolin).

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of unpack

Verb

Analysts are perking up about CoreWeave, even though investors are dumping shares and interest rates are rising in the economy.

— Tobias Burns, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Republicans have dumped hundreds of millions into the race to support Paxton, even as there have been leaks of audio clips of Paxton appearing to disparage national involvement in the race.

— Caroline Linton, CBS News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of dump

Verb

With some formal firefighter training and background checks, volunteers commit to following fire officials’ orders, helping residents evacuate and putting out spot fires, while leaving the ferocious front-line flames to the professionals.

— Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
The last employee to evacuate a data center in Kyiv closed the heavy metal door and took three steps down the stairs when a Russian drone slammed into the building.

— Jane Lytvynenko, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of evacuate

Verb

As for privacy, Mayer said users can grant Dazzle full, partial, or no access to their photos and images that are sensitive are immediately discarded.

— Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
Out of 120 million tons of clothing that was discarded globally in 2024, 80 percent went to incinerators or landfills.

— Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of discard

Verb

Pike was discharged from the hospital and returned to the women’s prison where she was housed for 30 years, her lawyers said Saturday.

— ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2026
The challenge aims to create designs that would safely discharge the astronaut and their spacesuit before an astronaut touches the lander.

— Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of discharge

Verb

The latest unit retains the same first six forward ratios as the outgoing Carrera T’s manual transmission, but ditches its predecessor’s somewhat awkward and largely superfluous seventh gear.

— Bradley Iger, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026
Josh O’Connor has stepped out in a perfectly boxy and slouchy gray pinstriped suit, while Benito Skinner has embraced the timeless three-piece suit—only to ditch the blazer, throw it over his shoulders, and rock the vest.

— Christian Allaire, Vogue, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of ditch

Verb

A lot of other researchers have published essays or long posts on social media, unburdening themselves of their concerns as well.

— Tyler Foggatt, New Yorker, 17 Sep. 2026
These outsiders, like executives or academics from different fields, offer crucial external perspectives, unburdened by internal assumptions or politics.

— Benjamin Laker, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of unburden

Verb

As music factories and generative tools take over entry-level work, newcomers risk losing a vital foothold in the industry.

— Ben Croll, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026
So instead of making teams whole each time, the NFL now just pays teams’ travel expenses for their international game under the rationale that every team will lose a home game—and, in turn, home game ticket revenue—during that time.

— Eben Novy-Williams, Sportico.com, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of lose

Browse Nearby Words

unlivable

unload

unloaded

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Style

“Unload.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unload. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of unload

verb

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