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
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Recent Examples of unlocking
After a visit to Lusaka in December, a senior State Department official said Zambia had committed to reforms aimed at unlocking substantial US support in exchange for cooperation in mining and improvements to its business climate.
—
Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Instead of replacing your hardware, upgrading the operating system can give your computer a fresh start while unlocking modern features and security protections.
—Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 17 Mar. 2026
Addressing those risks will be critical to unlocking the next wave of AI adoption – one where agents don’t just assist but act on a human’s behalf.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 17 Mar. 2026
This circuit will not give away its secrets easily, but the car is more than capable of unlocking them.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 15 Mar. 2026
Ivan Angulo’s pace will also be useful, unlocking more lanes for the Lions to get the ball into by spreading out the defense.
—Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2026
The Flyers’ offensive schemes have been sketchy this year, so a move to a playoff-caliber roster, alongside two difference-makers, could be the key to unlocking his game.
—Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2026
The Paton-Payton braintrust has made that clear this entire offseason, and their firing of receivers coach Keary Colbert and hire of longtime Payton associate Ronald Curry signal that Denver believes in unlocking the potential of its current group rather than needing a drastic personnel overhaul.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 6 Mar. 2026
Most others questioned the independence of the cost analysis and the benefits of unlocking prime real estate for a new arena for the Mavericks.
—Devyani Chhetri, Dallas Morning News, 2 Mar. 2026
Yinka Adegoke, semafor.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Instead of replacing your hardware, upgrading the operating system can give your computer a fresh start while unlocking modern features and security protections.
—Stackcommerce Team, PC Magazine, 17 Mar. 2026
Addressing those risks will be critical to unlocking the next wave of AI adoption – one where agents don’t just assist but act on a human’s behalf.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 17 Mar. 2026
This circuit will not give away its secrets easily, but the car is more than capable of unlocking them.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 15 Mar. 2026
Ivan Angulo’s pace will also be useful, unlocking more lanes for the Lions to get the ball into by spreading out the defense.
—Kyle Foley, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Mar. 2026
The Flyers’ offensive schemes have been sketchy this year, so a move to a playoff-caliber roster, alongside two difference-makers, could be the key to unlocking his game.
—Shayna Goldman, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2026
The Paton-Payton braintrust has made that clear this entire offseason, and their firing of receivers coach Keary Colbert and hire of longtime Payton associate Ronald Curry signal that Denver believes in unlocking the potential of its current group rather than needing a drastic personnel overhaul.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 6 Mar. 2026
Most others questioned the independence of the cost analysis and the benefits of unlocking prime real estate for a new arena for the Mavericks.
—Devyani Chhetri, Dallas Morning News, 2 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unlocking
Verb
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The getaway spirals into terror when Katie (Charli xcx) becomes possessed by a violent, tortured spirit (Mizuhara), unleashing a nightmare steeped in Japanese horror tradition.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Iran retaliated Wednesday by unleashing missile strikes against Israel, where two people were killed near Tel Aviv.—
DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS,
Arkansas Online,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Lawmakers will debate bills related to loosening gun regulations at colleges in at least eight states this year, including Florida, Louisiana, New Hampshire, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
18 Mar. 2026
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Why insurance hasn't fixed the problem Insurance, the typical market mechanism for navigating risk, has proven largely ineffective for loosening traffic in the strait, some analysts said.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The county is not releasing age, gender or state-of-origin information on the person who visited the Sharp Memorial ER, citing privacy concerns.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 Mar. 2026
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Footage filmed by The Associated Press showed at least one missile releasing a cluster of munitions over Israel.—
DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS,
Arkansas Online,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unlocking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlocking. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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