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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in approximate
not precisely correct
a loose guess about the size of the crowd at the outdoor concert
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to unleash
to find emotional release for
do not loose your pent-up frustrations on the next person who happens by
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of loose
Fergus Scholes, TheWeek, 30 Jan. 2026
Secure loose outdoor items and adjust plans as necessary so you're not caught outside.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2026
Adam L. Rovner, The Conversation, 31 Oct. 2025
Safer, then, to keep loosing arrows at others’ positions rather than one’s own.
—Shai Tubali, Big Think, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for loose
Adjective
Lock mode proved invaluable on loose climbs, Hill Descent took the stress out of steep drop-offs, and Auto seamlessly shuffled between two- and four-wheel drive as conditions changed.
—Fergus Scholes, TheWeek, 30 Jan. 2026
Secure loose outdoor items and adjust plans as necessary so you're not caught outside.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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
Safer, then, to keep loosing arrows at others’ positions rather than one’s own.
—Shai Tubali, Big Think, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for loose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loose
Adjective
-
Next, carefully remove the bowl from the microwave and use a microfiber cloth to wipe away all the loosened grime.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
The researchers also observed superconductivity in flexible films made from niobium carbide nanoscrolls.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Jan. 2026
-
More companies are dialing back flexible work schedules and mandating that employees return to the office part-time or full-time, forcing women into tough situations.—
Jessica Guynn,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.—
Mirna Alsharif,
NBC news,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Hot topics figure to include a potential salary cap or floor as the Los Angeles Dodgers’ free agency spending spree continued this winter.—
SportsDay Staff,
Dallas Morning News,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The network uses nearby Apple devices to detect an AirTag’s signal and relay its approximate location back to the owner.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Experts generally examine a panther’s teeth to determine its approximate age.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Rooting out corrupt generals and criminal networks could take months, or even years.—
Dexter Filkins,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Certainly, part of the way to improve Venezuela and to improve the Western Hemisphere and improve the lives of Americans is to get their very corrupt 25 years in decline, oil industry back going again.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Lakeside's previous police chief, who also served as mayor, Robert Gordanaire, was fired after he and his daughter, the town clerk, were indicted by a grand jury for selling vehicles belonging to the town and pocketing the profit.—
Brian Maass,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Even the oldest maxim about cab drivers and bell hops giving share prices was tested by relating an anecdote about comments in his village pub from locals and complete strangers firing questions at him and a fellow gold trader about the gold price.—
Tim Treadgold,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
For example, the higher estimates for the infamous August 2013 East Ghoutta chemical weapons attack, which saw sarin nerve gas unleashed on an urban civilian area, are 1,500 dead.—
Paul Iddon,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The societies that can advance to the frontiers of the productive power that capitalism unleashes while maintaining their coherence and élan advance to the front of the race for international status and power.—
Walter Russell Mead,
The Atlantic,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Loose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loose. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
