unfastening 1 of 2

noun

as in untying

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unfastening

2 of 2

verb

present participle of unfasten
as in loosening
to disengage the knotted parts of gently unfastened the strings of the baby's hood

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 unfastening
Verb
Transforming the cabin from sitting to sleeping is a group effort that includes unpacking the ladder (usually stowed beneath the seats with the luggage), unfastening the upper bunks, and making the beds. — Emily Manthei, Travel + Leisure, 10 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unfastening
  1. detaching
  2. untying
  3. parting
  4. loosening
  5. undoing
Noun
  • There have been at least 38 reports of and reviews mentioning the bristle detaching from the brushes, Weber said, and four reports of people who swallowed the metal bristles and sough medical treatment to remove them from their throat or digestive tract.
    — CBS Chicago Team, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
  • An issue with a solid rocket booster motor detaching during launch on the second flight, though, delayed that certification until March 2025.
    — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 Jan. 2026
Definition of detaching
Verb
  • The Nationals took the lead for good in the seventh inning when rookie John Klein allowed a solo home run to Keibert Ruiz, untying a game that pinch hitter Josh Bell had knotted up a half-inning earlier.
    — Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 7 May 2026
Definition of untying
Noun
  • And the surviving cartel scoundrels take the parting shot by kidnapping beloved Carter, putting a hood on him and taking the boy off.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Experiment with different parting angles to find what suits your face shape best.
    — Emily Kelleher, InStyle, 24 June 2026
Definition of parting
Verb
  • Matching trousers stayed narrow through the hips before loosening down the leg into a slight flare.
    — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 3 July 2026
  • The Supreme Court on Tuesday sided with congressional Republicans in further loosening campaign finance limits, a decision likely to upend how political parties funnel millions of dollars into TV ads in the upcoming midterm elections.
    — Julian Mark, Washington Post, 30 June 2026
Definition of loosening
Verb
  • Disability organisations including The Arc and the Council for Exceptional Children have warned the change risks shifting special education from an education framework to a medical one, undoing decades of progress toward integration in schools.
    — Keely Cat-Wells, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
  • Sitting on the Same Edge Every Day Rotating your mattress regularly aims to prevent uneven wear—but your morning routine might be undoing that effort.
    — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 1 July 2026
Definition of undoing

Browse Nearby Words

unfastened
unfastening
unfastens
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Cite this Entry

“Unfastening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unfastening. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on unfastening

Nglish: Translation of unfastening for Spanish Speakers

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