UNLOCK Synonyms: 49 Similar and Opposite Words

unlock

verb

ˌən-ˈläk

Definition of unlock

as in to unleash

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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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 unlock Part of its plan to unlock the over 40-year-old market has been to leverage Geller’s power as a spokeswoman for her generation and invest in social media platforms such as Instagram and TikTok. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 31 Aug. 2026 Once Meriwether unlocked that initial murder mystery, the rest cascaded like dominoes. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026 The only new women’s scorigami unlocked in 2026 so far was Jasmine Paolini’s 0-6, 6-4, 7-5 first round win over Robin Montgomery at Wimbledon. — Lev Akabas, Sportico.com, 31 Aug. 2026 Instead, Goldman economists suggest that Seoul try some more immediate solutions, like helping elderly Koreans unlock their housing wealth, and better distributing the windfall from the country’s super-profitable tech firms. — Mia Osmonbekov, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for unlock

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unlock

Verb

Throw him in yard, full go, no more limiting, no snap counts, no concern for opponent’s souls and fully unleash the 25-year-old coming off two ACL surgeries while everyone crosses fingers that his ligaments hold up.

— Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
Instead, the explosive Coleman Report unleashed a 60-year debate over race, resources, and what education in America is actually for.

— Rund Abdelfatah, NPR, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of unleash

Verb

Police were not immediately releasing the victims’ names pending notification of their families.

— Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
The trailer was released Monday before the Cubs showdown with the Brewers, which usually would’ve been the big story of the day if not for the fact that Milwaukee led the division by eight games with a month left.

— Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of release

Browse Nearby Words

unloads

unlock

unlocked

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“Unlock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlock. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of unlock

verb

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