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

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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 Lower-cost Alpha resins join specialized options such as Tough 1500, and Open Material Mode requires no unlocking fees and provides the freedom to experiment beyond Formlabs’ resin offerings. — Michael Lydick, PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026 Most notably, some leading Chinese thinkers believe robotics could be the key to unlocking artificial general intelligence—systems capable of performing as well as or better than humans across most tasks. — Scott Singer, Foreign Affairs, 12 Oct. 2026 Where casting shines is in quickly dipping into an app without reaching for your phone and unlocking it, like updating a payment in the settlement app Splitwise or sending a quick message in WhatsApp. — Dominic Preston, The Verge, 12 Oct. 2026 Putting Lee in motion is still one of the keys to unlocking the MU offense, as exemplified by his 32-yard score in the first quarter. — Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 10 Oct. 2026 Son’s rising star power then proved vital in unlocking financing. — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2026 The boy who was paralyzed was about a block and a half from where the shooting erupted and was unlocking a Lime scooter when the stray bullet hit him, according to the court documents. — ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026 All of these are unlocking parts of the city that many daytrippers never venture to. — Mary Holland, Robb Report, 8 Oct. 2026 Argentina’s citizen by investment scheme will offer numerous perks for travelers, including unlocking frictionless access to some of the most popular international destinations. — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unlocking
  1. unleashing
  2. loosening
  3. releasing
Verb
  • Written and directed by Jeremy Slater, the film follows Jefferson Haddock (Bacon), who is called into an isolated witness protection property to deal with a terrifying demon, unleashing a force that threatens to end him and everything around him.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026
  • In a statement, spokesperson Kollin Crompton said GOP governors and candidates remain focused on lowering taxes, unleashing American energy and keeping communities safe.
    — Kevin Hardy, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of unleashing
Verb
  • In the late 1970s, Giorgio Armani stripped the structure out of the traditional suit, softening its shoulders and loosening its trousers.
    — John Vorwald, Robb Report, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Furthermore, loosening these restrictions risks igniting new supply friction.
    — , CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of loosening
Verb
  • But ahead of November's midterm election, Democrats in recent weeks have ramped up campaign ads hitting their GOP opponents for past opposition to releasing the Epstein files.
    — Justin Papp, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The trigger for lithium-ion battery fires is a process called thermal runaway, a cascading sequence of heat-releasing reactions inside the battery cell.
    — Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of releasing

Browse Nearby Words

unlocked
unlocking
unlocks
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Cite this Entry

“Unlocking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unlocking. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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