UNCHAIN Synonyms: 50 Similar and Opposite Words

unchain

verb

ˌən-ˈchān

Definition of unchain

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

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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 The nationwide standalone 5G that the carrier announced Wednesday essentially unchains that service from 4G LTE, allowing devices to connect to the network without first requiring a setup via AT&T’s older and slower network. — PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2025 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for unchain

Verb

Slickwater uses a mix of water, sand, and thin, friction-reducing chemicals rather than thicker gels to shatter dense shale rock deep underground and free the gas.

— Jordan Blum, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026
In March, the company bought the technology firm Uplight, which utilities can use to free up more power in the grid by subtly modulating their customers’ consumption.

— Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of free

Verb

And deuterium nuclei contain a neutron that can be liberated by a neutrino and then detected, regardless of the type of neutrino.

— Doug Cowen, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2026
The Sun in your sign trines liberating Uranus in your adventurous 9th house, encouraging you to explore a new subject, destination, belief, or direction.

— Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of liberate

Verb

Two people died and 11 crew members were rescued, Romanian authorities said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026
The 14-year-old girl who officials say gave birth to her father’s child on a California roadside has been rescued after an Amber Alert issued last month, Monterey County officials confirmed Sunday evening.

— Jasmine Mendez, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of rescue

Verb

With clients walking out and a competitor putting the agency’s standing at risk, the siblings scramble to save both their income and what their mother built.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026
The readings were transmitted to a nearby computer and saved locally.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of save

Verb

However, restrictions have begun to loosen over the last decade, and some players have been allowed to compete abroad or join lucrative leagues.

— ABC News, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026
However, the task force urged county leaders to more aggressively lobby state politicians to loosen those spending restrictions, allowing money to be used on other local needs like transportation and housing.

— Ryan Gillespie, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of loosen

Verb

Drew was legally emancipated from her mother at 14 and began living independently.

— Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 18 Aug. 2026
In 1775, his first enslaver sold him to the commander of Framingham's Minute Men, who emancipated him, and Salem went on to fight at Lexington and Concord.

— Catherine Messier, The Providence Journal, 4 July 2026

Definition of emancipate

Browse Nearby Words

uncertainty

unchain

unchained

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Style

“Unchain.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unchain. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of unchain

verb

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