unleashing

verb

present participle of unleash
1
as in loosening
to set free (from a state of being held in check) unleashed all of his unspoken love for her in a long letter that he hoped he would have the courage to mail

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in releasing
to find emotional release for lifting weights is a way for me to unleash all the frustrations of the workday

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 unleashing There are a couple of shocking narrative twists at the end, with Alice potentially unleashing her wrath, and the revelation of Catherine’s role in Isabel’s death. — Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 31 Aug. 2026 Federal agents began unleashing rubber bullets, flash-bangs, and tear gas on the crowd. — Emily Witt, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026 Within minutes, Tehran began unleashing its arsenal against military and government targets throughout the region. — Josh Meyer, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026 Then the attention economy takes over, unleashing too many athletes who speak freely to better themselves rather than a select few who speak bravely to better society. — Jerry Brewer, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 Yet after initially acknowledging the economic struggle, the government once again accused the protesters of being foreign agents before unleashing one of the worst crackdowns in the Islamic Republic’s history. — Leila Gharagozlou, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026 For North Carolina, Saturday will be about growth from last year and the Tar Heels will also be unleashing an offense led by new offensive coordinator Bobby Petrino. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Aug. 2026 Hundreds of thousands of collisions would happen every year, each unleashing its own swarm of hazardous, high-speed orbital shrapnel. — Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 18 Aug. 2026 Adventure World is at the top of the agenda; the company is unleashing the concept across the country. — Dallas Morning News, Chicago Tribune, 17 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unleashing
  1. loosening
  2. releasing
  3. unlocking
Verb
  • National conservatives, for instance, oppose loosening the United States’ ties with Israel and tolerating Chinese and Russian imperialism.
    — Leonard A. Schuette, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026
  • So will a flood of 401(k) money, thanks to loosening rules about what investments belong in Americans’ retirement accounts.
    — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of loosening
Verb
  • Getty Images More than 30 years after releasing its first album, Nickelback is gearing up to drop another full-length, one which has already produced some minor rock hits in America.
    — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Since releasing her first album in 1967, Parton has received a total of 55 Grammy Award nominations, resulting in 10 wins.
    — Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of releasing
Verb
  • Restoring a sense of freedom to Marmoush’s game will be key to unlocking his confidence and his best form.
    — Thom Harris, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Students regain access to their devices at dismissal by tapping the pouch against an unlocking device.
    — Wakisha Bailey, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of unlocking

Browse Nearby Words

unleashes
unleashing
unlettered
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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