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
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Recent Examples of loose
Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2026
Hammer loose nails in place, and tighten loose fasteners and screws.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 21 Dec. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for loose
Adjective
With those loose guidelines in mind, IndieWire took the liberty of dreaming up a few ideas for scenarios the show could drop people into.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2026
Hammer loose nails in place, and tighten loose fasteners and screws.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
Candytuft is evergreen in warm Southern climes, but looses its foliage in cold northerly locations.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 21 Dec. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for loose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loose
Adjective
-
For now, though, Detroit’s automakers are leaning into the lucre that comes from selling millions of fossil-fuel vehicles in a rare moment of loosened regulation.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
24 Feb. 2026
-
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
-
That loose, unconsolidated snow is more likely to slide, making avalanches potentially larger during big storms.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
14 Mar. 2026
-
At a targeted $50 billion primary raise and $1.5 trillion valuation, the deal would trail only Saudi Aramco in market cap and blow past Alibaba’s debut, yet it’s being pitched off fragmentary financials and largely unconsolidated disclosures, Tully writes.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But economists say the similarities may be largely superficial, thanks to more flexible exchange-rate regimes and deeper foreign exchange reserves, which provide a buffer that helps absorb some of the shock.—
Anniek Bao,Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
9 Apr. 2026
-
From ballpark enhancements and fan experience to large-scale real estate developments like Mission Rock, the panel will examine how long-term, flexible capital is helping organizations build enduring value while maintaining operational control.—
Sportico Staff,
Sportico.com,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
12 Apr. 2026
-
Among those with in five shots of the lead are former Masters champion Patrick Reed, despite having to settle for a 72, and Patrick Cantlay, who opened the Masters with a 77 and became the first player in seven years to play bogey-free two straight days with rounds of 67-66.—
Doug Ferguson,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
That was a five-year low, approximate data provided by the Mecklenburg district attorney shows.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
-
While this can be difficult to determine with precision thanks to the product's variable rate, borrowers can still get an approximate idea of what their payments will look like.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Today, Christians observe Good Friday — a day when corrupt religious and political forces crucified Jesus of Nazareth as a common criminal on a rubbish heap outside the city walls of Jerusalem.—
Peter Cook,
New York Daily News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
First there’s Phil Reizenstein, who, during a long career plumbing the depths of Magic City jurisprudence, has represented a former telenovela actor who killed a motorist in a road rage incident, as well as a DEA agent in an investigation into corrupt activities.—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Indianapolis police are investigating after multiple shots were fired into the home of Indianapolis City-County Councilor Ron Gibson on Monday.—
Leah Sarnoff,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The Civilian Office of Police Accountability in 2022 recommended that Stillman be fired.—
CBS Chicago Team,
CBS News,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Their iconic Full-On Plumping Lip Polish is designed to unleash your sexy alter-ego and stimulate your senses.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace!—
Jane Tyska,
Mercury News,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Loose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loose. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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