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
Relevance
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 unlocking
He’s been hitting threes lately, which has been unlocking our offense more.
—
Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
Jones praised Pitts' talent and believes the 25-year-old is on the cusp of unlocking his full potential.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 1 Feb. 2026
This iteration was notably surreal, what with the goopy-faced woman, cartoonish DIY bomb, and witchcraft unlocking true love’s kiss.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
The physical step is what adds friction, forcing users to pause and decide whether unlocking an app is actually worth it.
—Avery Newmark, AJC.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Open, vendor-agnostic software platforms are critical to unlocking AI’s value at the operational and asset level.
—Gary Drenik, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
But high-resolution Surveying—gathering exhaustive and detailed information about a very narrow topic—is the key to unlocking the learning potential of imitation.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Executives from top British banks and manufacturers are joining Starmer, who plans to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday with a goal of unlocking more export business for UK firms.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Only a few of the workers stop in the fading winter light, quickly folding the flyers into parka pockets before unlocking their cars.
—William Wilkes, Bloomberg, 27 Jan. 2026
Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
Jones praised Pitts' talent and believes the 25-year-old is on the cusp of unlocking his full potential.
—Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 1 Feb. 2026
This iteration was notably surreal, what with the goopy-faced woman, cartoonish DIY bomb, and witchcraft unlocking true love’s kiss.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2026
The physical step is what adds friction, forcing users to pause and decide whether unlocking an app is actually worth it.
—Avery Newmark, AJC.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Open, vendor-agnostic software platforms are critical to unlocking AI’s value at the operational and asset level.
—Gary Drenik, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
But high-resolution Surveying—gathering exhaustive and detailed information about a very narrow topic—is the key to unlocking the learning potential of imitation.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Executives from top British banks and manufacturers are joining Starmer, who plans to meet with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Thursday with a goal of unlocking more export business for UK firms.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Only a few of the workers stop in the fading winter light, quickly folding the flyers into parka pockets before unlocking their cars.
—William Wilkes, Bloomberg, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unlocking
Verb
-
Altman, the influential and controversial Silicon Valley billionaire, transformed the economy by releasing ChatGPT and unleashing an AI revolution in November 2022.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Jessie Buckley is unleashing her inner monster.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Push-Ups to Downward-Facing Dog This strength-stretch combo move activates the chest, core, and arms while loosening the hamstrings and calves.—
Jenny McCoy,
Outside,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Its hundreds of pressure points help stimulate circulation, relieving tension and loosening muscles.—
Deanna Pai,
Vogue,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
That included releasing a joint photo of D’Amaro and Walden, conveying the message of partnership.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
4 Feb. 2026
-
The Boston Fire Department says the manhole covers were recently replaced, designed to catch themselves after releasing pressure instead of flying into the air.—
Brandon Truitt,
CBS News,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unlocking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlocking. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
