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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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
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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
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Recent Examples of loose
Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 20 Feb. 2026
Remove and shake off loose debris from drip pans.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 20 Feb. 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
From large stones that serve as focal points to loose gravel that replaces traditional grass, rocks have the power to completely transform and elevate your outdoor space.
—Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 20 Feb. 2026
Remove and shake off loose debris from drip pans.
—Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 20 Feb. 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
-
This combination of an unstable base below a thick layer of unconsolidated fresh snow is one of the most dangerous causes of snow avalanches in the mountains, Swain says.—
Tom Metcalfe,
Scientific American,
18 Feb. 2026
-
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
Adjective
-
Retirees who are flexible with spending or have other income sources, like Social Security or pensions, may be more comfortable using gold this way than someone who needs steady, reliable monthly cash.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Curlers need an intense training regimen, dedicated to sustaining them through short bursts of cardiovascular exercise (sweeping) and keeping their legs flexible and strong to support the deep lunge position adopted when hurling the stone.—
Julia Frankel,
Chicago Tribune,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Rooms and restaurants are plastic-free, water comes in glass bottles, and the hotel works with local farms and artisans as much as possible.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Feb. 2026
-
Szoka, who served in the North Carolina House of Representatives for 10 years and the Army for 20, worries some places will have to conserve energy or cope with dimmind lights in the coming years if the United States doesn’t make use of its plentiful and free sun and wind.—
Elizabeth Weise,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Deputies who are in a pursuit are required to drive with lights and sirens on, and the initial deputy must communicate the start of a pursuit and its reason, the exact location and direction of travel and approximate speeds and traffic conditions, according to BSO’s policy.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Still, rates right now remain competitive, and they're not expected to drop substantially anytime soon, allowing savers to establish an approximate idea of their future earnings.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The corrupt a-s psychopath prosecutors’ office.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The film stars Jake Busey (Stranger Things) as Dirk, a corrupt cop who partners with an eager, broke assistant named Jeff Klima, played by Felix Merback (Blood Star).—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
These boats have the vertical launch system (VLS), which could be used to fire new high-speed anti-ship missiles displayed at China’s Victory Day parade in Beijing last fall.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Police said one of the males in the fight brandished a handgun and fired gunshots at others.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In true February college basketball fashion, Tang unleashed his aggravation about his torpedoing season.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
-
By Jeran Wittenstein and Ryan Vlastelica | Bloomberg The stock market turmoil unleashed by the artificial-intelligence industry reflects two fears that are increasingly at odds.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Loose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loose. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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