Synonyms of loosen (up)

loosen (up) 1 of 2

verb (1)

as in to facilitate

to free from obstruction or difficulty

hoped that adding a second lane would loosen up traffic on that street

Synonyms & Similar Words

• facilitate
• accelerate
• improve
• ease
• promote
• simplify
• grease
• smooth
• pave the way (for)
• straighten (out)
• speed
• assist
• help
• aid
• forward
• unclog
• further
• hurry
• expedite
• hasten
• quicken
• rush
• advance
• streamline
• disentangle
• abet
• untangle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• complicate
• hinder
• impede
• retard
• aggravate
• worsen
• perplex
• sophisticate

loosen up

2 of 2

verb (2)

as in to relax

to get rid of nervous tension or anxiety

a high-pressure job that makes it hard for him to loosen up even on weekends

Synonyms & Similar Words

• relax
• hang loose
• rest
• chill out
• wind down
• chill
• unwind
• mellow (out)
• decompress
• compose
• kick back
• bask
• hang (around or out)
• de-stress
• settle
• goof (off)
• lounge
• hack (around)
• unbend
• alleviate
• comfort
• relieve
• bum
• idle
• veg out
• calm
• repose
• cool
• ease
• zone out
• loaf
• quiet
• loll
• dawdle
• laze
• footle
• vegetate
• drone
• dillydally
• dally

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• tense (up)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of loosen (up)

Verb

The magnesium salt flakes loosen up tight shoulders and soothe tired feet, as lavender and clary sage oil turn the day's stresses into far-off, distant memories. —Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025

The labor market that once felt tight has loosened up—supply of workers is outweighing demand. —Suzanne Blake, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025

Warm water can help to loosen up food stuck remains, make soap lather more easily, and make the cleaning process more efficient in general, but it isn’t required for sanitizing dishes. —Audrey Bruno, SELF, 10 Sep. 2025

The tip, of course, matters, but the rules loosen up. —Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2025