as in to free
to set free (as from slavery or confinement)
activists for animal rights who would like to unchain zoo animals and return them to the wild
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 unchain
When Henson refused to unchain herself from the fence, California Highway Patrol arrested her.
—
Kate Talerico, The Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2024
Max eventually unchains himself and helps Furiosa in her quest to free the cult leader's wives, gaining mutual respect along the way.
—Ew Staff, EW.com, 3 July 2024
Van Gogh had unchained it from its age-old funereal associations and reinvented it as a tour de force of emotional connection and nurturance.
—Deborah Solomon, New York Times, 11 May 2023
The Shambala Center would unchain our brains Through mindfulness, yoga, and chanted refrains.
—Nate Anderson, Ars Technica, 1 Apr. 2023
On Wednesday, the rescuers carefully lifted the shed enough to reach Bubbles and unchain the dog.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE.com, 3 Sep. 2021
The feds give an official exemption to Nuro, a company working on small self-driving cars—a sign that regulators are willing to unchain autonomous vehicles from the old rules.
—Aarian Marshall, Wired, 9 Feb. 2020
Police say the three protesters had the ability to unchain themselves from the equipment but refused.
—USA TODAY, 13 Sep. 2019
This most recent stretch includes half of his six big league homers, moments in which Naylor’s unchained enthusiasm for the game has teammates tripping over themselves to get out of his way.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2019
Kate Talerico, The Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2024
Max eventually unchains himself and helps Furiosa in her quest to free the cult leader's wives, gaining mutual respect along the way.
—Ew Staff, EW.com, 3 July 2024
Van Gogh had unchained it from its age-old funereal associations and reinvented it as a tour de force of emotional connection and nurturance.
—Deborah Solomon, New York Times, 11 May 2023
The Shambala Center would unchain our brains Through mindfulness, yoga, and chanted refrains.
—Nate Anderson, Ars Technica, 1 Apr. 2023
On Wednesday, the rescuers carefully lifted the shed enough to reach Bubbles and unchain the dog.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE.com, 3 Sep. 2021
The feds give an official exemption to Nuro, a company working on small self-driving cars—a sign that regulators are willing to unchain autonomous vehicles from the old rules.
—Aarian Marshall, Wired, 9 Feb. 2020
Police say the three protesters had the ability to unchain themselves from the equipment but refused.
—USA TODAY, 13 Sep. 2019
This most recent stretch includes half of his six big league homers, moments in which Naylor’s unchained enthusiasm for the game has teammates tripping over themselves to get out of his way.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Aug. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unchain
Verb
-
Then, in March, an appeals court acquitted Lee, freeing him to campaign in the snap election.—
Jong Eun Lee,
The Conversation,
29 May 2025
-
While that might not be for everyone, the principle stands: Fewer low-stakes choices free up capacity for high-impact thinking.—
Jacob Kupietzky,
Forbes.com,
28 May 2025
Verb
-
Season 2 offers a chilling, darkly hilarious and oddly liberating spin on a bad day at the office.—
Michael Ordoña,
Los Angeles Times,
20 May 2025
-
Even drinking a large glass of water can remind you to turn off the work-thoughts and liberate yourself to focus on everything else.—
Tracy Brower,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2025
Verb
-
However, he was granted his request at the Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday, May 21, according to the BBC, and was released on a $6.7 million bail.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
23 May 2025
-
The Devil Wears Prada 2, a sequel to the 2006 film that starred Anne Hathaway, Meryl Streep, Emily Blunt, and Stanley Tucci, is now set to release May 1.—
Raechal Shewfelt,
EW.com,
23 May 2025
Verb
-
Israeli forces have rescued eight and recovered dozens of bodies.—
Wafaa Shurafa,
Los Angeles Times,
28 May 2025
-
Not long after that, Garland also rescued Dangermouse, whose eye had to be removed at around 12 weeks old due to an infection.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 May 2025
Verb
-
Missing or loosened stones create tripping hazards, and city workers must frequently be dispatched to carry out repairs.—
Lilit Marcus,
CNN Money,
24 May 2025
-
Her avocados, for instance, are almost always halved, loosened from the skin, which remains to protect the fruit, then sliced, drizzled with lemon or lime juice and seasoned with salt, pepper and often chopped chives.—
Laurie Ochoa,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2025
Verb
-
The 'Modern Family' star faced challenges growing up, including emancipating from her mother at 17.—
Gillian Telling,
People.com,
9 May 2025
-
Somehow, this respectable foe of radicalism had organized the political realignment that broke up the Union, sustained the war that overthrew the South’s ruling class, and managed the struggle that emancipated its proletariat.—
Matthew Karp,
Harpers Magazine,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
His defensive metrics rank among the worst out of all qualified third basemen, with -7 outs above average and -8 defensive runs saved.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
28 May 2025
-
The kit will save you room and money on refills throughout the frame's 20-year life span cutting disposable waste by 20%.—
Adam Mills,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unchain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unchain. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share