release 1 of 2

verb

ri-ˈlēs How to pronounce release (audio)
Definition of releasenext
1
as in to unleash
to set free (from a state of being held in check) the losing player released his anger with a great yell of frustration

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to give way (to)
to find emotional release for tried to find other ways of releasing tension than by chewing her fingernails

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to free
to set free (as from slavery or confinement) release the prisoners immediately

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to liberate
to set free from entanglement or difficulty the new governor finally managed to release himself from his rash campaign promise

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to cast
to throw or give off an air freshener that releases a pleasing scent into the room

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in to announce
to make known openly or publicly the panel of nutritionists released their findings on the safety and effectiveness of various diets

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in to sack
to let go from office, service, or employment they released the workers who couldn't handle the new technology

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

release

2 of 2

noun

1
as in discharge
a freeing from an obligation or responsibility because they had legally declared bankruptcy, they received release from their debt

Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in waiver
a document containing a declaration of an intentional giving up of a right, claim, or privilege we had to sign a liability release before they'd let us go rock climbing on their property

Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in announcement
a published statement informing the public of a matter of general interest a press release announcing that the governor would not run for a second term

Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in relief
reduction of or freedom from pain only sleep offered any release from the agony of the migraine

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb release differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of release are emancipate, free, liberate, and manumit. While all these words mean "to set loose from restraint or constraint," release suggests a setting loose from confinement, restraint, or a state of pressure or tension, often without implication of permanent liberation.

released his anger on a punching bag

In what contexts can emancipate take the place of release?

The meanings of emancipate and release largely overlap; however, emancipate implies the liberation of a person from subjection or domination.

labor-saving devices emancipated us from household drudgery

When would free be a good substitute for release?

The words free and release can be used in similar contexts, but free implies a usually permanent removal from whatever binds, confines, entangles, or oppresses.

freed the animals from their cages

When might liberate be a better fit than release?

While in some cases nearly identical to release, liberate stresses particularly the resulting state of liberty.

liberated their country from the tyrant

When is manumit a more appropriate choice than release?

Although the words manumit and release have much in common, manumit implies emancipation from slavery.

the document manumitted the slaves

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 release
Verb
The sequel will be filmed for Imax and released June 2, 2028. — James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 31 Aug. 2026 Appealing to younger voters is something Democrats need to urgently do, according to the Democratic National Committee's autopsy of why the party lost the 2024 election, released in May. — Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
Noun
Saturday, the Kansas City Police Department was called to a gas station in the 10200 block of Wornall Road, according to a news release from Officer Alayna Gonzalez, police spokesperson. — Eleanor Nash, Kansas City Star, 30 Aug. 2026 The same might be said about Tyrel Dodson’s release, which didn’t come as much of a surprise considering his heavy usage in preseason games. — Omar Kelly august 30, Miami Herald, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for release
Recent Examples of Synonyms for release
  1. unleash
  2. free
  3. liberate
  4. cast
  5. announce
  6. sack
  7. discharge
  8. waiver
Verb
  • Catastrophic wall of water and mud unleashed by a collapsing glacier tore through villages on the Nepal-Tibet border, killing at least 353 people and leaving more than 1,300 missing, including scores of foreign pilgrims.
    — Niranjan Shrestha, Los Angeles Times, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Nepali officials have said the floods were likely unleashed by a glacial collapse, which is when a large piece of ice, rock and debris suddenly detaches from a glacier on a mountain.
    — Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of unleash
Verb
  • The 60-day injury list would change to 12 weeks and would still free up a 40-man roster spot.
    — Evan Drellich, New York Times, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Some analysts believe part of the recent selling stems from investors freeing up capital to participate in trading.
    — , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of free
Verb
  • Julie Klausner would like comedy liberated from the phone and returned to the sitcom.
    — Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Treatment doesn’t diminish human potential, but often liberates it.
    — Rachel Docekal, STAT, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of liberate
Verb
  • The referendum campaign has fueled debate about Iceland’s place in the world, Prime Minister Kristrun Frostadottir told reporters after casting her ballot in ​the capital on Saturday.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The Holocaust monument took Treister five years to design and sculpt, and included research in Jerusalem and work in Taiwan and Mexico City, where his sculptures were cast.
    — Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of cast
Verb
  • Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on Monday announced a plan to sever the Islamic Republic's financial connections around the world.
    — Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The news comes after the movie theater announced its closure, leaving New Yorkers mourning at the loss.
    — Amethyst Martinez, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of announce
Verb
  • Craig was sacked three times and once UNC started keying on the run, the Horned Frogs struggled to match the Tar Heels’ physicality.
    — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Aug. 2026
  • In a real game, Bryce Young would have been sacked at least a half-dozen times and probably more.
    — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of sack
Noun
  • Michael still had the hospital discharge papers in his truck.
    — Ruby Cramer, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • During testing, the company’s 210Ah cells ran continuously at 100 percent depth of discharge with minimal capacity loss.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of discharge
Noun
  • Odds are the Dolphins would rush to put in waiver claims in search of a competent backup if training camp ended Tuesday.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The quarterback struggles in camp bring into the realm of possibility Dolphins general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan seeking an outside backup option off the waiver wire following roster cuts if Ewers doesn’t show rapid improvement.
    — David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of waiver

Browse Nearby Words

relays
release
released
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Release.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/release. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
skateboard-dog-hat
Wordmaxxing Slang Quiz Give your vocabulary a glow up by getting sendy w...
See All