1
as in loosened
not tightly fastened, tied, or stretched
secure your neckerchief with a loose knot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of loose
Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 July 2025
Anderson wore a purple strapless gown, while Neeson sported a loose gray suit as the two were all smiles and gazed at one another.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2025
Matthew Specktor, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Even before the rains, rockslides loosed by the wildfire had tumbled onto the road.
—Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for loose
Adjective
At $450 million, this is a moment to turn his DOGE team loose and point them towards the Everglades.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 July 2025
Anderson wore a purple strapless gown, while Neeson sported a loose gray suit as the two were all smiles and gazed at one another.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 29 July 2025
Verb
In the fall of 1982, Love Child receives its title and is loosed into theaters, only to vanish a few weeks later.
—Matthew Specktor, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Even before the rains, rockslides loosed by the wildfire had tumbled onto the road.
—Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for loose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loose
Adjective
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Management identified a material weakness in internal controls related to verifying information from unconsolidated subsidiaries, which has been addressed with new procedures.—
Quartz Intelligence Newsroom,
Quartz,
1 Apr. 2025
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Related article Massive sinkhole threatens to swallow West Virginia police department Takashi Oguchi, a geographer from the University of Tokyo, said sinkholes are rare in Japan, where most roads are built on unconsolidated fluvial and marine sediments.—
Yumi Asada, Chris Lau and Minori Konishi,
CNN,
31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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This entails the focus on more flexible work arrangements and challenges the more deeply rooted traditional relationships between employees and employers.—
Bankim Chandra,
Forbes.com,
23 July 2025
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Compared to most other garden crops, carrots are relatively flexible about their lighting needs and grow in either full or part sun locations.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
23 July 2025
Adjective
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Start a free trial now to start watching some of the best soccer players in the world hit the pitch.—
Kilty Cleary,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 July 2025
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Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free newsletter to get the latest trailers, celebrity interviews, film reviews, and more.—
Wesley Stenzel,
EW.com,
26 July 2025
Adjective
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In 2019, Uber launched Women Rider Preference in Saudi Arabia, a year after the country granted women the right to drive following an approximate 60-year ban.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
25 July 2025
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The approximate threshold to prevent measles transmission is 95%, according to the state agency.—
Hannah Poukish,
Sacbee.com,
24 July 2025
Adjective
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After decades when Ukraine was seen as one of the most corrupt countries in the world, cleaning up its government has been held up as the most important condition for Kyiv to join the European Union and integrate more broadly with the West.—
Olena Harmash,
USA Today,
23 July 2025
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The first season’s framing of the police as some of the dumbest and most corrupt people alive could be good fodder for Salazar, who might make a go for sheriff given how Callie’s husband bungled the Pastor Pete case.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
22 July 2025
Verb
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Apparently, Señor Musk is now working for the government and firing a lot of people from their jobs—and really enjoying it.—
Larry David,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
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The Nationals’ selection came a week after the organization fired manager Dave Martinez and general manager Mike Rizzo.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
14 July 2025
Verb
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But that would be nothing compared to the hell that might’ve been unleashed within other clubs had Garber acquiesced.—
Ian Nicholas Quillen,
Forbes.com,
26 July 2025
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Five Nights at Freddy's 2 sees Mike and Abby reuniting with the haunted animatronics, unleashing new horrors.—
Allison DeGrushe Published,
EW.com,
25 July 2025
Verb
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Tammi made her feature directorial debut with the supernatural horror film The Wind, which premiered at the Toronto Film Festival in 2018 and was released by IFC Midnight.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
21 July 2025
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Regarding Trump's assertions, the White House pointed NPR to a 2022 analysis done by the district attorney's office in Yolo County, Calif., which found that most of the 595 people released there without bail during the study period committed new crimes.—
Meg Anderson,
NPR,
21 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Loose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loose. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
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