loose

loose

adjective

Definition of LOOSE

1

not tightly fastened, tied, or stretched <secure your neckerchief with a loose knot>

Synonyms insecure, lax, loosened, relaxed, slack, slackened, unsecured

Related Words detached, free, unattached, unbound, undone, unfastened, untied; baggy, blousy, saggy

Near Antonyms constrained, restrained; attached, bound, fastened, tied; fast, firm, jammed, snug, stuck, wedged

Antonyms taut, tense, tight

2

consisting of particles that do not stick together <the car wheels slipped on the loose gravel in the driveway>

Synonyms incoherent, unconsolidated

Related Words nonadhesive, nonviscous; disconnected, disjointed, separate, unconnected; coarse, granular, rough

Near Antonyms connected, solid; compacted, compressed; adhesive, gelatinous, gluey, glutinous, gooey, gummy, sticky, viscid, viscous

Antonyms coherent, compact, dense, packed

3

not bound by rigid standards <the generally loose discipline practiced by many weekend dads>

Synonyms flexible, lax, loose, relaxed, slack, unrestrained, unrestricted

Related Words careless, derelict, heedless, irresponsible, lazy, neglectful, negligent, remiss, slipshod, sloppy, sloven, slovenly, unfussy

Near Antonyms constrained, restrained, restricted, tight; careful, conscientious, exact, fussy, meticulous, painstaking, punctilious, scrupulous; implacable, inflexible

Antonyms hard, harsh, rigid, rigorous, severe, stern, strict

4

not bound, confined, or detained by force <there was a brief panic when the lion got loose from its cage at the zoo>

Synonyms footloose, loose, unbound, unconfined, unrestrained

Related Words escaped; uncaged, unchained, unfettered, unleashed; uncaught; unanchored, unbolted, undone, unfastened, untied; clear, disengaged

Near Antonyms caught; caged, chained, enclosed (also inclosed), immured, imprisoned, leashed, penned; anchored, bolted, fastened, fettered, manacled, shackled, tied; kidnapped (also kidnaped)

Antonyms bound, confined, restrained, unfree

5

not precisely correct <a loose guess about the size of the crowd at the outdoor concert>

Synonyms approximate, approximative, ballpark, imprecise, inaccurate, loose, squishy

Related Words erroneous, false, incorrect, off, wrong; general, indefinable, indefinite, indeterminate, indistinct, mushy, undefined, undetermined, unsettled, vague; faulty, flawed, mistaken; specious; distorted, fallacious, misleading; doubtful, dubious, questionable, uncertain; inconclusive, indecisive; debatable, disputable; invalidated, unconfirmed, unsubstantiated, unsupported

Near Antonyms certain, incontestable, indubitable, positive, sure, undeniable, unquestionable; correct, errorless, factual, right, sound, true, valid; clear-cut, decisive, definable, defined, definite; incontrovertible, indisputable, irrefutable; absolute, unqualified; confirmed, corroborated, determined, established, substantiated, supported, validated

Antonyms accurate, dead, dead-on, exact, precise, ultraprecise, veracious

6

having or showing lowered moral character or standards <the loose life that he led in the years before his death by a drug overdose>

Synonyms debased, debauched, decadent, degenerate, degraded, demoralized, depraved, dissipated, dissolute, jackleg, libertine, loose, perverse, perverted, rakehell (or rakehelly), rakish, reprobate, sick, unclean, unwholesome, warped

Related Words bent [chiefly British], crooked, cutthroat, dishonest, unethical, unprincipled, unscrupulous; contaminated, spoiled, tainted; bad, evil, immoral, iniquitous, miscreant, nefarious, sinful, vicious, wicked

Near Antonyms incorruptible; ethical, honest, principled; good, moral, righteous, virtuous

Antonyms pure, uncorrupt, uncorrupted