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 Australian group is bringing along Toad the Wet Sprocket and Shonen Knife to loosen up the crowd’s head-bobbing muscles. —Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 10 Mar. 2026

Raw Silk Skincare Washcloths are an all-natural, reusable exfoliating cloth, designed for gently loosening up dead skin cells and makeup. —Tory Johnson, ABC News, 10 Mar. 2026

Inventory loosening up One sign the housing market is loosening is an increasing ratio of sellers to buyers. —Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026

Snug at the hips and thigh, the silhouette loosens up at the knee into a true straight leg. —Genevieve Cepeda, InStyle, 4 Mar. 2026