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
Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 8 May 2026
Seasonal moisture changes can cause wood floors to expand, shift or become uneven, leading to loose boards or small gaps.
—Angie Hicks, Boston Herald, 8 May 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
Tigers ace Tarik Skubal had surgery to remove loose bodies from his left elbow on Wednesday.
—Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 8 May 2026
Seasonal moisture changes can cause wood floors to expand, shift or become uneven, leading to loose boards or small gaps.
—Angie Hicks, Boston Herald, 8 May 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
-
The result highlighted their potential for wearable electronics, lightweight power systems, and flexible solar applications.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
-
The booth combined a UR10e case‑packing cell, Vention’s modular conveyor system for product movement and accumulation and a UR20 palletizer, showing how collaborative robots and modular hardware can create flexible, easy‑to‑deploy packaging lines.—
Arthur Zaczkiewicz,
Footwear News,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
If that wasn’t enough action in the sprints, Santa Margarita’s boys emerged victorious after a confusing finish in the 200 free relay.—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
10 May 2026
-
Scotto expects notable free cash flow generation and a strong balance sheet to easily cover the capex guidance increase.—
TipRanks.com Staff,
CNBC,
10 May 2026
Adjective
-
The engine throttle angles shown in the animation are approximate and based on electronic signals.—
James Glanz,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
-
The approximate expected maximum payout to individuals — or their survivors — who can show they were harmed by Purdue opioids that were prescribed to them.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Well remember, there’s a corrupt shadow hanging over the Supreme Court.—
NBC news,
NBC news,
10 May 2026
-
Voicer Chris Lee conjures a hypothetically corrupt fire inspection system to oppose battery storage.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2026
Verb
-
Trump nominates Cameron Hamilton to lead FEMA, a surprising comeback after the former Navy SEAL was fired last May for defending the agency’s existence amid calls to dismantle it.—
Gabriela Aoun Angueira,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
-
The outlet reported that in 2020, Brown fired multiple rounds at Boston police officers while already on probation in a separate case.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
And some were holding back to figure out the right guard rails and directives to put in place before unleashing too many of autonomous ‘workers’ throughout their corporations.—
Diane Brady,
Fortune,
11 May 2026
-
In the aftermath of the BAFTA Film Awards, the BBC created a new set of protocols, which now need to be unleashed without a hitch as the public broadcaster bids to avoid a repeat of the disaster.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Loose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loose. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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