1
as in discharging
to empty or rid of cargo
the dockworkers unloaded the ship
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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!
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of unloading
Indiana Fever Head Coach Stephanie White led the charge, completely unloading on Thomas and the league's officials during her postgame press conference.
—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
26 June 2026
As soon as one plane finished unloading passengers, another was right behind it.
—
Jeff Wagner,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
His predecessor, Doug McMillon, followed a similarly humble path—starting out unloading trailers at a Walmart distribution center before eventually taking the top job.
—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
7 June 2026
The incoming team's portion of the cost was $32 million, including chartering the ship and loading and unloading the gear.
—
Arkansas Online,
6 June 2026
Down in the pit, on a raw October night in 1966, one of the giant haulers was unloading its tonnage when the pistons of its dump bed seized up.
—
Jonathan Franzen,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Durable enough to handle the elements, this waterproof light features a comfortable elastic strap and a bright, adjustable beam that improves visibility while keeping both hands free for unloading luggage, handling car repairs, or setting up camp in the dark.
—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
31 May 2026
At this moment, on this Saturday morning, crew members representing nearly every team focused their attention on one specific team unloading one specific car.
—
Jordan Bianchi,
New York Times,
23 May 2026
Perry dropped Diaz with a knee in the closing seconds, unloading uppercuts, elbows and hooks as Diaz tried to bounce away from the fence.
—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
26 June 2026
As soon as one plane finished unloading passengers, another was right behind it.
—
Jeff Wagner,
CBS News,
19 June 2026
His predecessor, Doug McMillon, followed a similarly humble path—starting out unloading trailers at a Walmart distribution center before eventually taking the top job.
—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
7 June 2026
The incoming team's portion of the cost was $32 million, including chartering the ship and loading and unloading the gear.
—
Arkansas Online,
6 June 2026
Down in the pit, on a raw October night in 1966, one of the giant haulers was unloading its tonnage when the pistons of its dump bed seized up.
—
Jonathan Franzen,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Durable enough to handle the elements, this waterproof light features a comfortable elastic strap and a bright, adjustable beam that improves visibility while keeping both hands free for unloading luggage, handling car repairs, or setting up camp in the dark.
—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
31 May 2026
At this moment, on this Saturday morning, crew members representing nearly every team focused their attention on one specific team unloading one specific car.
—
Jordan Bianchi,
New York Times,
23 May 2026
Perry dropped Diaz with a knee in the closing seconds, unloading uppercuts, elbows and hooks as Diaz tried to bounce away from the fence.
—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
16 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unloading
Verb
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Congress has had difficulty discharging its lawmaking duties.
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Pet owners should vigilantly inspect animals for enlarging, inflamed, or discharging wounds, or visible larvae, particularly near mucosal areas.
Verb
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The best way to combat mosquitoes is by interrupting their life cycle, consistently dumping out containers, refreshing water in birdbaths, and adding Mosquito Dunks to wet areas that can't be easily drained.
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The first signs were his dramatic overreaction to the girls dumping Gabe.
Verb
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As the Fashion News Editor at British Vogue, Daniel Rodgers covers a broad range of topics, unpacking the effects of culture on clothing.
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These organizational features can make a surprising difference, particularly during longer trips where unpacking and repacking become part of the routine.
Verb
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But the lawyer for suspect Iqbal Bacchus, 46, suggested Bacchus was selling wiring that the hospital was discarding.
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The council also ordered up a measure doubling the amount of money allocated for the Department of Recreation and Parks, discarding an alternative plan that would have increased it by 50%.
Verb
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Grant also said passengers should consider wearing closed-toe shoes, which can aid in quickly evacuating.
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Officers tracked down the bus, pulled it over and started evacuating passengers, Carroll said.
Verb
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For golf cart operators, that evolution absolutely begins by ditching archaic lead-acid relics engineered for a bygone era.
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There are many reasons for this – not the least of which is that ditching the pilot and the cockpit itself opens up the opportunity to not only simplify the design of the aircraft, but also free up valuable cargo space and reduce weight.
Verb
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Off-loading tasks such as writing code might result in cognitive atrophy over the long term, and that is problematic in itself, but off-loading ethical decisions will result in an atrophy of moral reasoning, which is worse.
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The canister was still wedged in my crotch, off-loading its contents like a homemade Roman candle.
Verb
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Panama can't make anything of its counter attacks and keeps losing the ball in transition.
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Sweden finished third in Group F, winning its first game by four goals and losing its second by the same margin.
Cite this Entry
“Unloading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unloading. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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