unleashed; unleashing; unleashes
1
: to free from or as if from a leash : let loose
unleash the dogs
unleashing his anger
2
: to throw, shoot, or set in motion forcefully
… unleashed a superb shot … to earn his side a point.—
The New York Times
The New York Times3
: to allow or cause (something powerful) to happen suddenly
The storm unleashed its fury.
The editorial unleashed a flood/torrent of angry responses.
Examples of unleash in a Sentence
The storm unleashed its fury.
The editorial unleashed a torrent of angry responses.
Recent Examples on the Web
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz unleashed the biggest oil supply shock in history, sending energy prices sharply higher.
—Eleni Giokos, CNN Money, 7 May 2026
Its true potential is unleashed with the GT-Line AWD final trim.
—Charles Singh, USA Today, 7 May 2026
This administration has unleashed a disgusting anti-immigrant agenda.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
Alejandra’s profound desire to become a mother—and the heartbreak and pressure that engulf her after multiple miscarriages—drive her to fake a pregnancy, unleashing a media scandal and a moral reckoning.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for unleash
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Eleni Giokos, CNN Money, 7 May 2026
Its true potential is unleashed with the GT-Line AWD final trim.
—Charles Singh, USA Today, 7 May 2026
This administration has unleashed a disgusting anti-immigrant agenda.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
Alejandra’s profound desire to become a mother—and the heartbreak and pressure that engulf her after multiple miscarriages—drive her to fake a pregnancy, unleashing a media scandal and a moral reckoning.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for unleash
Cite this Entry
“Unleash.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unleash. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
unleash
verb
un·leash
ˌən-ˈlēsh 
: to free from or as if from a leash
unleash a dog
the storm unleashed its fury
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