Synonyms of unlocking

unlocking

verb

present participle of unlock

as in unleashing

to set free (from a state of being held in check)

that last insult unlocked her tongue, and she finally said what she really thought

Synonyms & Similar Words

• unleashing
• loosening
• releasing
• expressing
• letting go
• loosing
• uncorking
• unloosing
• freeing
• liberating
• unloosening
• emancipating
• enfranchising
• springing
• airing
• unshackling
• unchaining
• discharging
• unfettering
• unbinding
• manumitting
• unmooring
• uncaging
• venting
• taking out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• controlling
• holding
• containing
• checking
• inhibiting
• regulating
• governing
• restraining
• curbing
• constraining
• taming
• smothering
• reining (in)
• handcuffing
• confining
• binding
• bridling
• shackling
• hampering
• manacling
• trammeling
• fettering
• enchaining
• haltering

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of unlocking

Scientists study them in hopes of unlocking the secrets behind their regenerative powers — and whether similar mechanisms might one day be applied to human medicine, including the possibility of regrowing complex tissues or even limbs. —Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 28 Apr. 2026

Rice commanding such a fee was down to Moyes unlocking his full potential. —Patrick Boyland, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026

Batteries are a linchpin for unlocking solar and wind energy’s full potential by soaking up excess green energy and then discharging it when the wind isn’t blowing or the sun isn’t shining. —Mark Chediak, Fortune, 24 Apr. 2026

Could solar energy be the key to unlocking a future free from fossil fuels and extreme poverty? —Big Think, 21 Apr. 2026

But what sets DeviantArt apart from other platforms is its Subscription feature, supplying a cornerstone of a stable creative career by unlocking a recurring, steady revenue stream. —The Editors Of Artnews, ARTnews.com, 17 Apr. 2026

Fabric development and finishing expertise converge, unlocking both creative and technical opportunities that a fragmented supply chain would not be able to achieve. —Sj Studio, Footwear News, 15 Apr. 2026

Last week, brother-and-sister owners Eric Paden and Milisa Barrett posted a Facebook video of themselves unlocking the door of their restaurant’s new home, a vintage building on Locust Street. —Martha Ross, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026

The approach allows delicate atomically thin materials to be shaped without damage, unlocking their potential for high-performance optical systems. —Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 13 Apr. 2026