as in unleashes
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 unlocks
Every deployment contributes to grid stability, unlocks growth for AI and electrified industries, and advances energy independence—all while creating opportunities for skilled jobs and local investment.
—
CBS News, 23 Jan. 2026
This unlocks new visual languages and stronger emotional bridges, driving what has the potential to become the most transformative era in creative history.
—David Bloom, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
The video game-like hack that unlocks Chewie Mode replaces instructions from space pirate Hondo Ohnaka with an Easter Egg version of the ride filled with Chewbacca roaring at riders for 5 minutes in the Wookiee dialect of Shyriiwook.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 16 Jan. 2026
Maybe amending the Sports Broadcasting Act is part of a solution that unlocks billions in television revenue.
—Ralph D. Russo, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
December 22 – January 19 When boundaries feel tight, kindness unlocks progress.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2026
Capricorn December 22 – January 19 When boundaries feel tight, kindness unlocks progress.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
Fermentation, which uses yeast to break down the sugars in grape juice, transforming single-note sweetness into the complex, delicious alcohol enjoyed by so many, also unlocks those smoky compounds; so, too, can the enzymes in human saliva.
—Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
That’s because the card technically earns rewards as Chase Ultimate Rewards® points ($1 cash back = 100 points), which unlocks all sorts of rewards possibilities.
—Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 30 Dec. 2025
CBS News, 23 Jan. 2026
This unlocks new visual languages and stronger emotional bridges, driving what has the potential to become the most transformative era in creative history.
—David Bloom, Forbes.com, 23 Jan. 2026
The video game-like hack that unlocks Chewie Mode replaces instructions from space pirate Hondo Ohnaka with an Easter Egg version of the ride filled with Chewbacca roaring at riders for 5 minutes in the Wookiee dialect of Shyriiwook.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 16 Jan. 2026
Maybe amending the Sports Broadcasting Act is part of a solution that unlocks billions in television revenue.
—Ralph D. Russo, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
December 22 – January 19 When boundaries feel tight, kindness unlocks progress.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2026
Capricorn December 22 – January 19 When boundaries feel tight, kindness unlocks progress.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 8 Jan. 2026
Fermentation, which uses yeast to break down the sugars in grape juice, transforming single-note sweetness into the complex, delicious alcohol enjoyed by so many, also unlocks those smoky compounds; so, too, can the enzymes in human saliva.
—Nicola Twilley, New Yorker, 5 Jan. 2026
That’s because the card technically earns rewards as Chase Ultimate Rewards® points ($1 cash back = 100 points), which unlocks all sorts of rewards possibilities.
—Jason Stauffer, CNBC, 30 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unlocks
Verb
-
In the clip, EJAE unleashes her powerful, stripped down vocals for the emotional ballad (which has been covered by the likes of Mariah Carey) in a glamorous bathroom that features a double vanity as well as a white grand piano, singing into an appropriately golden mic.—
Anna Chan,
Billboard,
21 Jan. 2026
-
The moment where Godzilla unleashes his atomic breath is a moment of unparalleled horror and, in a perverse way, beauty.—
James Grebey,
Vulture,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Instead of stimulating the brain, alcohol slows it down and loosens inhibitions.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
10 Jan. 2026
-
If TNF‑α loosens the blood-brain barrier, inflammatory molecules from the blood – as well as disease-causing pathogens – may have increased access to the reward circuitry of the brain, potentially worsening neuronal damage and dysfunction over time.—
Habibeh Khoshbouei,
The Conversation,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Unlocks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlocks. Accessed 23 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
