LOCKING Synonyms: 57 Similar and Opposite Words

locking

verb

present participle of lock

as in latching

Related Words

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Dissimilar Words

as in wrapping

Related Words

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 locking This anti-theft bag converts from tote to crossbody to backpack and is packed with smart security features, including RFID-blocking pockets, locking zippers, and a chair-lock loop. — Aly Walansky, Travel + Leisure, 19 Feb. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for locking

Verb

The dog made it over the fence and began to attack K-9 Diesel, latching onto his neck, prosecutors said.

— Madeline Bartos, CBS News, 16 Sep. 2026
The second saw Isak recalibrate his run in behind a couple of times before latching onto Gakpo’s trivela pass, staying composed as a defender and Scherpen got close before sliding a shot home with his left foot.

— Gregg Evans, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of latching

Verb

If your hair isn’t naturally wavy, use a curling iron to add waves, wrapping sections around the iron in opposite directions for a less polished look.

— Lindy Segal, Glamour, 19 Oct. 2026
Grande is currently taking a break from her public-facing work after wrapping her Eternal Sunshine Tour in early September.

— Anna Chan, Billboard, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of wrapping

Verb

That frees up human operators to focus on big-picture decisions, such as monitoring weather forecasts, running flight simulations for possible paths, and then chaining together a series of navigational waypoints for the smoothest possible journey.

— Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026
Standing up for carriage drivers cannot mean chaining their futures to a dying trade that risks lives every time a horse panics in traffic.

— Al Sharpton, New York Daily News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of chaining

Verb

In an era where architectural images spread rapidly through social media, this building, resembling a white folding fan, undoubtedly has the potential to become a popular landmark.

— Wendy Wang, Architectural Digest, 22 Oct. 2026
As petrified parents filed into the warehouse-like church nestled in a strip mall and took seats on folding chairs, Michelle noticed a woman near the front, sitting alone.

— Taylor Galgano, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of folding

Verb

For those sheltering in place, the city advised shutting windows and doors, turning off AC units drawing in outside air and keeping pets inside.

— Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 21 Oct. 2026
Advocates for closing Rikers would say that shutting the complex as soon as possible would improve the health and safety of all those in custody but also that of the broader public.

— Curbed, Curbed, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of shutting

Verb

Description This perennial member of the Fabaceae family produces long, slender vines that climb by twining or spread horizontally along the ground.

— Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026
Blooms provide an early source of nectar for hummingbirds, butterflies, and other pollinators, while songbirds shelter and build nests among the twining branches.

— Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 12 July 2026

Definition of twining

Verb

Paired with her chocolate brown booties, Camilla donned a black wool trench coat with button closures fastening the collar in place, layered over what appeared to be a cowl-neck blouse with a floral-esque pattern.

— Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026
If your duvet cover has buttons or zippers, Ceconi recommends fastening the closures before laundering to prevent tangling.

— Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 14 July 2026

Definition of fastening

Verb

Captured by the Solar Wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer, or SMILE, the footage reveals the full ring of auroral activity encircling Earth's north pole in ultraviolet light, stretching across both the night and day sides of our planet.

— Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Dumas watched, charmed, his arms encircling his wife’s shoulders, and accepted an ice-cream sundae in a silver parfait cup.

— Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026