1
as in loosened
not tightly fastened, tied, or stretched
secure your neckerchief with a loose knot
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Relevance
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2
as in unconsolidated
consisting of particles that do not stick together
the car wheels slipped on the loose gravel in the driveway
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3
as in flexible
not bound by rigid standards
we tend to be loose with the dress code when we aren't hosting clients at the office
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4
as in free
not bound, confined, or detained by force
there was a brief panic when the lion got loose from its cage at the zoo
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5
as in approximate
not precisely correct
a loose guess about the size of the crowd at the outdoor concert
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6
as in corrupt
having or showing lowered moral character or standards
the loose life that he led in the years before he settled down and found his path
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1
as in to fire
to cause (a projectile) to be driven forward with force
the archers loosed a great volley of arrows at the foot soldiers charging towards them
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2
as in to unleash
to find emotional release for
do not loose your pent-up frustrations on the next person who happens by
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3
as in to free
to set free (as from slavery or confinement)
the ranchers loosed the horses from their stables and into the paddock
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4
as in to loosen
to set free (from a state of being held in check)
the storm loosed its full fury when it hit the coastline at high tide
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of loose
Emily Cureton Cook,
ProPublica,
26 June 2026
Berhalter tied the score again four minutes into the second half, latching onto a loose ball at the top of the penalty area and one-hopping a right-footed shot just inside the near post.
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Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2026
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
21 Dec. 2025
Isaacs, a Jewish apprentice merchant from England, loosed the rope around his waist and jumped for his life, landing on the edge of the Zulu kingdom.
—
Adam L. Rovner,
The Conversation,
31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for loose
Adjective
But Oregon policymakers have such loose definitions of what’s beneficial and what’s waste that, during the drought, our reporting found, only 1 of every 4 gallons COID took from the river was absorbed by crops.
—
Emily Cureton Cook,
ProPublica,
26 June 2026
Berhalter tied the score again four minutes into the second half, latching onto a loose ball at the top of the penalty area and one-hopping a right-footed shot just inside the near post.
—
Kevin Baxter,
Los Angeles Times,
26 June 2026
Verb
Candytuft is evergreen in warm Southern climes, but looses its foliage in cold northerly locations.
—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
21 Dec. 2025
Isaacs, a Jewish apprentice merchant from England, loosed the rope around his waist and jumped for his life, landing on the edge of the Zulu kingdom.
—
Adam L. Rovner,
The Conversation,
31 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for loose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loose
Adjective
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Hence shirt jackets and safari jackets in linen and leather came to the fore, as did denim Bermudas, linen polos and lots of lifestyle knits amid its more formal, full-canvas tailoring — styled with a loosened tie.
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For now, though, Detroit’s automakers are leaning into the lucre that comes from selling millions of fossil-fuel vehicles in a rare moment of loosened regulation.
Adjective
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That loose, unconsolidated snow is more likely to slide, making avalanches potentially larger during big storms.
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At a targeted $50 billion primary raise and $1.5 trillion valuation, the deal would trail only Saudi Aramco in market cap and blow past Alibaba’s debut, yet it’s being pitched off fragmentary financials and largely unconsolidated disclosures, Tully writes.
Adjective
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The headband is flexible for a perfect fit, and the adjustable earcups have plush cushioning to prevent pinching.
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The oil market is incredibly complex and significantly more flexible than even the most knowledgeable experts anticipated.
Adjective
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See list of free community events How to watch the World Cup in Miami away from the stadium.
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For those unable to attend games at Kansas City (Arrowhead) Stadium, the free-to-enter festival offers local and traveling spectators a place to gather during the World Cup.
Adjective
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The wavelength at which the dropout occurs—determined by which filter it’s seen in—can reveal a galaxy’s approximate redshift.
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Japanese records were fragmented, and Allied strike reports provided only approximate locations.
Adjective
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Johnson County He was arrested last August on charges of abuse of office and corrupt influence.
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The kidnappings have been linked to run-ins with drug cartels and corrupt government officials, while there have also been cases involving young women who worked at the country’s many factories.
Verb
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The suspect allegedly fired several shots at Majied.
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The Israeli military says 36 Israeli soldiers and four civilians were killed, as Hezbollah fired thousands of rockets and drones into northern Israel and Israeli troops in southern Lebanon.
Verb
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In Tennessee, a pickup truck carrying about 1 million bees overturned near Knoxville in April, unleashing a swarm that blanketed the crash scene.
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In contrast to missteps domestically, Starmer has won praise for his international role, notably in rallying European support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia’s invasion, and working to mitigate the economic and political turmoil unleashed by the Iran conflict.
Cite this Entry
“Loose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loose. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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