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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of loosen (up)
Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 27 Dec. 2025
These actions loosen up or batten down portions of the genome and are akin to opening or closing doors to specific genes.
—Ivan Amato, Quanta Magazine, 22 Dec. 2025
Be sure to spend plenty of time massaging the cleanser into your skin, which will allow the blend of oils and plant extracts to loosen up the congestion in your pores.
—Emily Orofino, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2025
And though this slick east-side restaurant has loosened up a bit, the razor-sharp staff still runs the place like the fine-dining spectacle it's been for 20 years, with perfect pacing and so much poise.
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for loosen (up)
Verb
Millions of Americans, especially the richest, took advantage of the ultra-low interest rates during the pandemic, when the Fed loosened up monetary policy to shore up the economy.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 27 Dec. 2025
These actions loosen up or batten down portions of the genome and are akin to opening or closing doors to specific genes.
—Ivan Amato, Quanta Magazine, 22 Dec. 2025
Be sure to spend plenty of time massaging the cleanser into your skin, which will allow the blend of oils and plant extracts to loosen up the congestion in your pores.
—Emily Orofino, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2025
And though this slick east-side restaurant has loosened up a bit, the razor-sharp staff still runs the place like the fine-dining spectacle it's been for 20 years, with perfect pacing and so much poise.
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 22 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for loosen (up)
Cite this Entry
“Loosen (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loosen%20%28up%29. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
