as in loose
not tightly fastened, tied, or stretched
the loosened nuts finally dropped off of the screws
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in relaxed
to make less taut
the lead climber loosened the climbing rope so that the other climber could have more room to maneuver
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in freed
to set free (as from slavery or confinement)
the dog ran after the squirrel after he was loosened from the post
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in unleashed
to set free (from a state of being held in check)
once he got to know us better, his inhibitions loosened a bit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of loosened
Bloomberg, Oc Register, 24 Feb. 2026
Next, carefully remove the bowl from the microwave and use a microfiber cloth to wipe away all the loosened grime.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2025
The board’s Budget and Legislative Analyst said the loosened contracting rules could apply to more than $1 billion in government spending.
—J.d. Morris, San Francisco Chronicle, 29 Jan. 2025
Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
The Supreme Court loosened a provision of the Voting Rights Act that restricted redrawing congressional districts on the basis of race.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Microsoft remains the primary partner, but the grip has loosened.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 27 Apr. 2026
As crises have accumulated in the decade since, the hoodie’s tight connection to anti-Black violence seems to have loosened.
—Dawn Chan, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
Plus, the straps can be tightened or loosened to your liking.
—Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
His hands of steel loosened my back with oils, and various stones like hot and salt.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2026
For Americans chasing a Canadian passport, the rules may have loosened but the red tape hasn’t.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
The day when everything around her began to shake and the lumps that embraced her loosened their grip and the tool tossed her through the air, she was spared from being sliced in two by the metal edge.
—María Ospina, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026
Adjective
For now, though, Detroit’s automakers are leaning into the lucre that comes from selling millions of fossil-fuel vehicles in a rare moment of loosened regulation.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 24 Feb. 2026
Next, carefully remove the bowl from the microwave and use a microfiber cloth to wipe away all the loosened grime.
—Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2025
The board’s Budget and Legislative Analyst said the loosened contracting rules could apply to more than $1 billion in government spending.
—J.d. Morris, San Francisco Chronicle, 29 Jan. 2025
Verb
Over the next 100 years, the rules of fashion loosened a bit.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 1 May 2026
The Supreme Court loosened a provision of the Voting Rights Act that restricted redrawing congressional districts on the basis of race.
—Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Microsoft remains the primary partner, but the grip has loosened.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 27 Apr. 2026
As crises have accumulated in the decade since, the hoodie’s tight connection to anti-Black violence seems to have loosened.
—Dawn Chan, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026
Plus, the straps can be tightened or loosened to your liking.
—Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
His hands of steel loosened my back with oils, and various stones like hot and salt.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2026
For Americans chasing a Canadian passport, the rules may have loosened but the red tape hasn’t.
—Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
The day when everything around her began to shake and the lumps that embraced her loosened their grip and the tool tossed her through the air, she was spared from being sliced in two by the metal edge.
—María Ospina, The Dial, 31 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loosened
Adjective
-
Besides the basic ABCs, Gutierrez encouraged cyclists to check the quick releases on their wheels to ensure the mechanism does not come loose and release the wheel while biking.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
8 May 2026
-
ShinyHunters has operated for years as a loose collective.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
The service Staff are relaxed, friendly, and highly amenable—no request is too outlandish.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Plus, the side slits keep the shirt relaxed without looking too boxy on smaller frames.—
Aashna Gheewalla,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That’s freed up the large teams once dedicated to data entry and cleaning, many of whom have been redeployed onto building internal evaluations.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The girl reportedly freed herself and knocked on a nearby neighbor's door, where she was brought inside to safety.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The departure of tenants unleashed a cascade of financial complications, court files show.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
4 May 2026
-
Reaction there to that major Supreme Court ruling this week that has unleashed a new round of mid-decade redistricting after the justices narrowed Section 2 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 May 2026
Adjective
-
Having replaced McGinn, Sancho was still settling into the game’s pace, but was markedly slack in possession.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
20 Apr. 2026
-
That’s why trains have a trick called slack action.—
Rhett Allain,
Wired News,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Those fears have eased somewhat in recent months as some Democratic candidates advance from the pack.—
Dakota Smith,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
-
Restrictions were partially eased in February before being tightened again after the US and Israel struck Iran on February 28.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
The ages of the victims and the origin of the train were not immediately released.—
Joe Kottke,
NBC news,
11 May 2026
-
The couple was released three days later, but the children have remained in state custody ever since.—
Ava Kofman,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
When the electric field reaches a critical strength — roughly 3 million volts per meter — the air starts to come undone.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
6 May 2026
-
Known for her universally flattering lip liner trick, Park channeled that aesthetic tonight in a romantic, undone way.—
Margaux Anbouba,
Vogue,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Loosened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loosened. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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