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

Heat from cooking can loosen up these folds so your body can readily use the compounds. —Caroline Hopkins Legaspi, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025

Chisholm aimed to exhaust the opponent and loosen up the defense for later in the match. —Jay King, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025

Meanwhile, steam only needs water heated to a high temperature to loosen up dirt and grime, plus sanitize surfaces. —Terri Williams, Architectural Digest, 3 Apr. 2025

That means loosening up a bit, letting go of both judgments and self-consciousness about the varying ways that people live with and care for children. —Stephanie H. Murray, The Atlantic, 2 Jan. 2025