1
as in to relax
to make less taut
the lead climber loosened the climbing rope so that the other climber could have more room to maneuver
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to release
to set free (as from slavery or confinement)
the dog ran after the squirrel after he was loosened from the post
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to unleash
to set free (from a state of being held in check)
once he got to know us better, his inhibitions loosened a bit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of loosen
For Americans chasing a Canadian passport, the rules may have loosened but the red tape hasn’t.
—
Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
Dig down about 6 inches with a shovel to loosen the soil in bare spots.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 3 Apr. 2026
For the past month, wellness and longevity enthusiasts have eagerly waited for the federal government to loosen restrictions on some of the trendy and unapproved therapies.
—Will Stone, NPR, 31 Mar. 2026
The day when everything around her began to shake and the lumps that embraced her loosened their grip and the tool tossed her through the air, she was spared from being sliced in two by the metal edge.
—María Ospina, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for loosen
Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
Dig down about 6 inches with a shovel to loosen the soil in bare spots.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 3 Apr. 2026
For the past month, wellness and longevity enthusiasts have eagerly waited for the federal government to loosen restrictions on some of the trendy and unapproved therapies.
—Will Stone, NPR, 31 Mar. 2026
The day when everything around her began to shake and the lumps that embraced her loosened their grip and the tool tossed her through the air, she was spared from being sliced in two by the metal edge.
—María Ospina, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for loosen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loosen
Verb
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The bill currently proposes relaxing pesticide labeling rules and the potential preemption of states suing big agrochemical companies in cases related to carcinogenic paraquat and glyphosate.—
Thomas Heaton,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
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For many, a relaxing soak in the tub isn’t complete without a bath bomb.—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Stunning photos taken by the crew were released on Tuesday, April 7, one day after their loop around the moon, showing spectacular views and a solar eclipse in space.—
Mark Osborne,
CBS News,
11 Apr. 2026
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Last year, Patel released Monkey Man, an action thriller he co-wrote, directed and starred in.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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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
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Let those who have the power to unleash wars choose peace!—
Jane Tyska,
Mercury News,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The People’s Bank of China reaffirmed its cautious monetary easing stance in a quarterly meeting last month, after delivering only one 10-basis-point reduction in the policy interest rate in 2025.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
10 Apr. 2026
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But the therapies to ease symptoms were punishing.—
Courtney Crowder,
USA Today,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Mantello’s production actually frees the play from its own time, expanding its vista.—
Chris Jones,
New York Daily News,
10 Apr. 2026
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Jared Wright freed the puck with a check at neutral ice, allowing Scott Laughton to carry it into the Vancouver zone.—
Josh Gross,
Daily News,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Because what was bad for his bank account was fantastic for his creative freedom, liberating Ehrenreich, who had been trapped on the anesthetizing career trajectory that’s a prerequisite for movie stardom, to embrace his wild side.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
7 Apr. 2026
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If everything went right, the OpenAI founders believed, artificial intelligence could usher in a post-scarcity utopia, automating grunt work, curing cancer, and liberating people to enjoy lives of leisure and abundance.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The ClearBell colony loosing ClearBells like snowflakes into the water.—
Mandy-Suzanne Wong,
Longreads,
5 Feb. 2026
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Co-regulating your emotions alongside your toddler can help achieve a resolution to conflict without raising your voice or loosing your temper.—
Sara Rowe Mount,
Parents,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But in this patient the sun might have triggered somatic mutations that rescued her cells.—
Jerome Groopman,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
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The Wall Street Journal added that the airman, who eluded capture for 36 hours and hid in a remote mountain crevice, was rescued by a specialized commando force.—
Joe Dwinell,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Loosen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loosen. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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