freewheeling

adjective

free·wheel·ing | \ ˌfrē-ˈhwē-liŋ

, -ˈwē-\

Definition of freewheeling

: free and loose in form or manner: such as

a : heedless of social norms or niceties the raider style of his freewheeling father— Garry Wills

b : not repressed or restrained freewheeling promiscuity a freewheeling competitive spirit

c : not bound by formal rules, procedures, or guidelines a freewheeling investigation

d : loose and undisciplined : not defensive a freewheeling style of hockey

Other Words from freewheeling Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about freewheeling

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Synonyms & Antonyms for freewheeling

Synonyms

footloose

Antonyms

tied

Examples of freewheeling in a Sentence

She led a freewheeling life in the city. James Bond has long been the model of the freewheeling hero who encounters danger and excitement in every corner of the globe.

Recent Examples on the Web

His interview answers thoughtful, freewheeling and appealingly tangential. — Matt Wake | Mwake@al.com, al.com, "Drivin N Cryin is still going ‘Straight to Hell’," 11 June 2019 Foremost among them is Delaware’s status as a freewheeling tax haven. — Andrew Cockburn, Harper's magazine, "No Joe!," 10 June 2019 Welcome to Betomania, a nascent presidential campaign that’s still learning how to balance the 46-year-old Democrat’s freewheeling style with the demands of running a nationwide political organization. — Alexandra Jaffe, The Seattle Times, "O’Rourke’s casual style to be tested by national campaign," 25 Mar. 2019 Rogers’s personal style is much like her home-life situation at the moment: fairly undefined and freewheeling. — Brooke Bobb, Vogue, "Maggie Rogers’s Personal Style Is a Mix of a “Space Cowgirl and San Francisco Art Teacher”—She Tells Us Why," 18 Mar. 2019 All available polls in the race were conducted prior to President Trump's freewheeling rally Saturday night in suburban Columbus, however, and Republicans are hoping that the combination of big spending and national star power will turn the tide. — Gregg Re, Fox News, "Polls on eve of crucial Ohio special election show 'neck and neck' race as Trump, GOP face national test," 6 Aug. 2018 America’s approach to etiquette has always been more freewheeling than Europe’s. — Paula Marantz Cohen, WSJ, "The Lost Art of the Apology Letter," 2 Aug. 2018 While Google has always prided itself on an open and freewheeling corporate culture, activism is newer to other big tech employers. — Joseph Menn, The Christian Science Monitor, "Silicon Valley employees increasingly push companies on ethics," 13 July 2018 But Giuliani's talkative and freewheeling style has irritated many White House officials, who say his frequent pronouncements are unhelpful and have often put the president in difficult positions. — chicagotribune.com, "Giuliani works for foreign clients while serving as Trump's attorney," 10 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'freewheeling.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.