as in key
something that allows someone to achieve a desired goal it turned out that a simple "please" was the open sesame for charming the hotel manager into giving us a room with a better view

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 open sesame For something cozy, but not basic: Ask Rabble Coffee for an open sesame: a latte with tahini, dates, orange, cinnamon and chili pepper. Arika Herron, Axios, 10 Sep. 2024 But is an ‘Alexandria in the cloud’ really an open sesame? Susan Tallman, The New York Review of Books, 1 Dec. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for open sesame
Noun
  • The key is balance — personalization should feel helpful, not manipulative.
    Arthur Zaczkiewicz, WWD, 27 Jan. 2025
  • The key is to move forward with that commitment, so that beautiful journey becomes clear.
    Megan Poinski, Forbes, 27 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • Producers thinking of putting on an Arthur Miller are more likely to go for the tragedies because that’s what he’s known for and those are what have sold tickets in the past.
    Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 25 Jan. 2025
  • Jarett Allen from Burnsville won $5,000,000 in the N.C. lottery on Thursday, Jan. 9, after purchasing a $30 200X The Cash ticket from his local Riverside General Store, according to an official news release.
    Escher Walcott, People.com, 13 Jan. 2025
Noun
  • And having fewer infections would lessen the chance of the H5N1 bird flu virus evolving within a person to spread efficiently between people — the gateway to a bird flu pandemic.
    Amy Maxmen, CNN, 30 Jan. 2025
  • The event also included competitions at the novice and junior levels, as well as development camps that are the gateway for athletes to join the national team, which competes at the world and Olympic levels.
    Alice Park, TIME, 30 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near open sesame

Cite this Entry

“Open sesame.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/open%20sesame. Accessed 6 Feb. 2025.

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