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

After the ceasefire, oil prices plunged and bond yields fell, loosening up some of the cost crunch for consumers and businesses alike. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026

Dulude suggests loosening up the food particles on the microwave walls by placing a bowl of water inside with half a lemon and using a high setting to boil the water. —Lori Keong, Architectural Digest, 2 Apr. 2026

But mortgage rates could slowly come down once the tension in the Middle East loosens up. —Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 31 Mar. 2026

With just a few sprays, the hydrating formula melts into strands to loosen up hair and prevent breakage. —Catharine Malzahn, Glamour, 18 Mar. 2026