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
Sarah Jones, Footwear News, 12 June 2026
The pants have a straight-leg silhouette and an elastic waistband that offers the right amount of stretch for comfortable sitting and movement without feeling loose or saggy.
—Bridget Degnan, Travel + Leisure, 12 June 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 the dominance of looser silhouettes, spandex manufacturer Hyosung has seen demand for low-power stretch between 12 and 20 percent, which offers some elasticity while looking more like vintage denim.
—Sarah Jones, Footwear News, 12 June 2026
The pants have a straight-leg silhouette and an elastic waistband that offers the right amount of stretch for comfortable sitting and movement without feeling loose or saggy.
—Bridget Degnan, Travel + Leisure, 12 June 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
-
With high interest rates that outpace inflation, a structure that will allow savers to maintain a flexible approach and a seamless transition for those already banking online, this can be the right account at the right time.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
11 June 2026
-
The experience highlighted the value of acting fast during travel disruptions, choosing flexible booking options, and embracing unexpected destinations.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
11 June 2026
Adjective
-
Ladipo says with a partnership with Common Goal, another national organization, their free inner-city soccer league, StationSoccer is the official player escort at the World Cup games in Atlanta.—
Chelsea Torres,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
-
Rideshare / taxi services will not be permitted to drop off near Miami Stadium – all such vehicles will be directed to an offsite lot (more info below), and fans will be required to board a free shuttle bus.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
The approximate loss for the alcohol is around $50.—
Nollyanne Delacruz,
Mercury News,
16 June 2026
-
To say that Curacao is the underdog, and not just against Germany but for the entire tournament, would be an understatement with the Caribbean island's approximate population being just under 160,000.—
Mark Harris,
FOXNews.com,
14 June 2026
Adjective
-
There's a corrupt deal happening at the biggest levels among the billionaire class to increase their wealth at the expense of many people are suffering greatly right now.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 June 2026
-
The police are a corrupt institution.—
Grace Byron,
New Yorker,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Uruguay's efforts finally yield fruit as Maximiliano Araújo fires home in the 80th minute from close range on the left after Al-Owais made an initial save of a Uruguayan header but left the ball alive in the box.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
16 June 2026
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The chief told The Times the officer who fired the shot was no longer on the force, and the district attorney’s office was reviewing whether the behavior was criminal in nature.—
Richard Winton,
Los Angeles Times,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
The intensity increased stepwise until, with nine Valkyries singing at full force, Dudamel unleashed a climactic storm of sound.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
-
Directed by action veteran Kenji Tanigaki and produced by Bill Kong, the martial arts showcase stars Xie Miao as Wang Wei, an ordinary man who unleashes a relentless rampage against a powerful child trafficking syndicate after his daughter is kidnapped.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
15 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Loose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loose. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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