1
as in to relax
to make less taut
the lead climber loosened the climbing rope so that the other climber could have more room to maneuver
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to release
to set free (as from slavery or confinement)
the dog ran after the squirrel after he was loosened from the post
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to unleash
to set free (from a state of being held in check)
once he got to know us better, his inhibitions loosened a bit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of loosen
Complete 10 shoulder circles backward and 10 shoulder circles forward to loosen the shoulder joints.
—
Rikkilynn Shields Hannigan,
Health,
24 June 2026
That protein keeps the seals between your gut cells closed by silencing the genes that would otherwise loosen them.
—
Ryan Brennan,
Sacbee.com,
24 June 2026
Cambridge recently joined Boston and other Massachusetts communities in temporarily loosening its liquor laws for the World Cup and other summer celebrations.
—
Logan Hall,
CBS News,
24 June 2026
As the children grow older, the ties that bind those friendships can loosen.
—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for loosen
Rikkilynn Shields Hannigan,
Health,
24 June 2026
That protein keeps the seals between your gut cells closed by silencing the genes that would otherwise loosen them.
—
Ryan Brennan,
Sacbee.com,
24 June 2026
Cambridge recently joined Boston and other Massachusetts communities in temporarily loosening its liquor laws for the World Cup and other summer celebrations.
—
Logan Hall,
CBS News,
24 June 2026
As the children grow older, the ties that bind those friendships can loosen.
—
Jeanne Phillips,
Mercury News,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for loosen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loosen
Verb
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Marcy Park is a place where families, pets, and Highlands Ranch residents go to relax, and where Laura Nelson saw an opportunity to engage with her community.
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One of its earliest central promises was to relax Howard’s gun laws.
Verb
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Linda Parisi, Blake Rakela’s defense attorney, has asked the court to set bail and allow her client to be released while the criminal case proceeds.
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As of Monday, the father was treated and released from a hospital, where his 11-year-old remained in stable condition.
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.
Verb
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In the bond market, Treasury yields eased with oil prices.
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May said the venue change helped ease some of the tension.
Verb
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For every Founding Father looking to free the colonies from British tyranny, there was a Larry (often called Lawrence here) who suggests that sharing desserts and umbrellas should be prohibited by the Declaration of Independence.
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Such maneuvering could then potentially free the Heat from being hard-capped at the first tax apron (although still highly unlikely).
Verb
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Harvard’s research confirms that AI liberates managers from coordination and relay tasks, freeing them for judgment, contextual intelligence, and human connection that no system can replicate.
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He is liberated from the constraints of [Republican leaders like] a Paul Ryan or a Mitch McConnell.
Verb
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The ClearBell colony loosing ClearBells like snowflakes into the water.
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Co-regulating your emotions alongside your toddler can help achieve a resolution to conflict without raising your voice or loosing your temper.
Verb
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Analysts credit the 2011 purchase of NBCUniversal as a huge success; Comcast rescued a company that was on the ropes due to General Electric’s under-investment.
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The infant, who is 9 months old, was rescued along with her mother, the State Department told Fox News Digital.
Cite this Entry
“Loosen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loosen. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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