1
as in discharging
to empty or rid of cargo
the dockworkers unloaded the ship
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dumping
to get rid of as useless or unwanted
I can't seem to unload this old car—even the charities won't take it!
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of unloading
In one video posted on Instagram, several people are seen on the side of the bridge unloading what appears to be several boxes of fireworks.
—
Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
No loading and unloading the car, no long morning commutes—just grab your gear and go.
—Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 10 Feb. 2026
You're not locked into unloading a full ounce at once, which can be appealing for people who view silver as a form of emergency liquidity.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
But with this recent stretch, paired with the teams around them getting weaker by unloading talent at the trade deadline, the Hornets are in prime position to play well into April for the first time in the better part of a decade.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 7 Feb. 2026
Labeling the pantry is especially helpful in households where multiple people are responsible for unloading groceries or meal prepping.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Feb. 2026
Vance said that for too long, China has used the tactic of unloading materials at cheap prices to undermine potential competitors, then ratcheting up prices later after keeping new mines from being built in other countries.
—Didi Tang, Arkansas Online, 5 Feb. 2026
Even listening to a favorite song and dancing around the kitchen while unloading the dishwasher can become a beloved family ritual—just think about what brings your family joy, and go from there.
—Erica Jackson Curran, Parents, 11 Jan. 2026
The kids cheered as teachers, staff, and an Enchanted Backpack crew began unloading boxes full of school supplies, books, games, clothing and other items for the students.
—Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
No loading and unloading the car, no long morning commutes—just grab your gear and go.
—Abby Price, Travel + Leisure, 10 Feb. 2026
You're not locked into unloading a full ounce at once, which can be appealing for people who view silver as a form of emergency liquidity.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
But with this recent stretch, paired with the teams around them getting weaker by unloading talent at the trade deadline, the Hornets are in prime position to play well into April for the first time in the better part of a decade.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 7 Feb. 2026
Labeling the pantry is especially helpful in households where multiple people are responsible for unloading groceries or meal prepping.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Feb. 2026
Vance said that for too long, China has used the tactic of unloading materials at cheap prices to undermine potential competitors, then ratcheting up prices later after keeping new mines from being built in other countries.
—Didi Tang, Arkansas Online, 5 Feb. 2026
Even listening to a favorite song and dancing around the kitchen while unloading the dishwasher can become a beloved family ritual—just think about what brings your family joy, and go from there.
—Erica Jackson Curran, Parents, 11 Jan. 2026
The kids cheered as teachers, staff, and an Enchanted Backpack crew began unloading boxes full of school supplies, books, games, clothing and other items for the students.
—Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unloading
Verb
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The suspects all face multiple charges, including two counts of deadly conduct and one count of discharging a firearm in certain municipalities, according to the release.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Feb. 2026
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All five teens are facing two counts of deadly conduct and one count of discharging a firearm in certain municipalities.—
Doug Myers,
CBS News,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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My only other knock is the twist-off cap, which can result in dumping out too much product.—
Sophia Panych,
Allure,
16 Feb. 2026
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The lawsuit alleges the administration violated environmental laws by dumping White House demolition debris on the course, raising serious pollution concerns.—
Safiyah Riddle,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Featuring the good, the bad and the ugly, ‘Look of the Week’ is a regular series dedicated to unpacking the most talked about outfit of the last seven days.—
Rachel Tashjian,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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The fair’s agenda was complemented by keynotes and panel discussions unpacking the global fashion trends, as well as fashion shows from brands including Alissa, Carmen, De White’s, Maxra Govanna and Puane.—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Alternatively, many towns hold drop-off days or offer year-round services for safely discarding chemicals and flammables.—
Nafeesah Allen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Feb. 2026
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Which might be helping the fish fry get things back into the safe temperature zone, but can also mean discarding items if they've been held too long at unsafe temperatures.—
Megan Shinn,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Russia began evacuating its citizens from Cuba but has been forced to adjust its flight schedules because of the fuel shortage.—
Laura Kelly,
The Hill,
12 Feb. 2026
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School officials started evacuating students Friday morning while law enforcement secured the area.—
Julianna Duennes Russ,
Austin American Statesman,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Matthew and Camila McConaughey are ditching traditional Valentine's Day dinner for a pantsless horseback ride.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
11 Feb. 2026
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One of Londons most influential figures, Lady Danbury seems determined to focus on herself this year, even considering ditching the rigid expectations of society.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Sewald came to the Diamondbacks from the Seattle Mariners in a trade deadline deal in 2023 and helped the D-backs make a surprise run to the Fall Classic before losing to the Texas Rangers in five games.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
15 Feb. 2026
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Businesses are losing foot traffic, changing their hours or closing entirely.—
Jeff Wagner,
CBS News,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Anthropic has raised concerns over students off-loading cognitive work to AI systems, and OpenAI has acknowledged that dependence on AI tools more generally is a problem.—
Lila Shroff,
The Atlantic,
1 Dec. 2025
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The canister was still wedged in my crotch, off-loading its contents like a homemade Roman candle.—
Charlie Sheen,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2019
Cite this Entry
“Unloading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unloading. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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