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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of loosened
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
22 June 2026
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
Evy Lewis,
Chicago Tribune,
26 June 2026
Anderson’s collection was about formality losing its grip — tuxedos loosened, denim ripped, sequins flashing, disco-ball boots stepping through a house built on old-world taste.
—
ABC News,
24 June 2026
When Defir briefly loosened his grip, the woman escaped, per prosecutors.
—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
22 June 2026
In 2020, the rules were further loosened so that players can change in some contexts after that age.
—
Laurent Dubois,
The Conversation,
10 June 2026
The ladies then loosened the mood and began discussing pop culture topics, like Pink's Tony Awards opening number and Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's reported wedding plans at Madison Square Garden.
—
Leigh Blickley,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 June 2026
These cities loosened their zoning laws and other restrictions in recent years to build housing, helping bring down rents.
—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
Travel costs are climbing, remote work has loosened the rules on where and how long people can roam, and a growing share of travelers are deciding that a stranger’s spare bedroom — or entire home — beats another $400-a-night hotel.
—
Hanna Wickes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
The mother-of-pearl buttons have an expensive, classy look and haven’t loosened with wear.
—
Irene Richardson,
InStyle,
1 June 2026
Adjective
Hence shirt jackets and safari jackets in linen and leather came to the fore, as did denim Bermudas, linen polos and lots of lifestyle knits amid its more formal, full-canvas tailoring — styled with a loosened tie.
—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
22 June 2026
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
Citgo is asking for carbon monoxide emissions standards to be loosened for certain larger boilers and heaters at the Lemont refinery during periods of startup and shutdown, Citgo lawyer Melissa Brown said in an opening statement.
—
Evy Lewis,
Chicago Tribune,
26 June 2026
Anderson’s collection was about formality losing its grip — tuxedos loosened, denim ripped, sequins flashing, disco-ball boots stepping through a house built on old-world taste.
—
ABC News,
24 June 2026
When Defir briefly loosened his grip, the woman escaped, per prosecutors.
—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
22 June 2026
In 2020, the rules were further loosened so that players can change in some contexts after that age.
—
Laurent Dubois,
The Conversation,
10 June 2026
The ladies then loosened the mood and began discussing pop culture topics, like Pink's Tony Awards opening number and Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's reported wedding plans at Madison Square Garden.
—
Leigh Blickley,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 June 2026
These cities loosened their zoning laws and other restrictions in recent years to build housing, helping bring down rents.
—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
Travel costs are climbing, remote work has loosened the rules on where and how long people can roam, and a growing share of travelers are deciding that a stranger’s spare bedroom — or entire home — beats another $400-a-night hotel.
—
Hanna Wickes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
The mother-of-pearl buttons have an expensive, classy look and haven’t loosened with wear.
—
Irene Richardson,
InStyle,
1 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loosened
Adjective
-
This pair is loose through the hips and thighs, with a not-too-wide leg that feels timeless.
-
Potential profits have encouraged traffickers to ship massive amounts of illicit drugs to both countries, often across the Pacific Ocean from South America via the Pacific Islands, a loose cluster of thousands of islands and atolls.
Verb
-
The flexible pull-on waistband stays relaxed from your morning commute to dinner plans.
-
Restrictions on cleats were relaxed, so players could put social justice messages on them.
Verb
-
Two years ago, a judge freed Anthony Bailey after 27 years in the federal penitentiary, giving him a second chance at life.
-
After 42 years behind bars, Mayes is now being freed.
Verb
-
After Abbosbek Fayzullaev won the ball back for Uzbekistan near the top of the box, Azizjon Ganiev unleashed an incredible strike that briefly made this a 2-1 game.
-
Six prime ministers have taken office at 10 Downing Street since the referendum, none of whom have lasted long enough to bury the political instability Brexit unleashed.
Adjective
-
And those problems are magnified in the slack middle section of this 160-minute film, as the hunters make discoveries of their own in the forest, unnecessary subplots and aliens multiply, and there are some halfhearted attempts at giving them a thin backstory.
-
Having replaced McGinn, Sancho was still settling into the game’s pace, but was markedly slack in possession.
Verb
-
The pound eased against major currencies as speculation mounted that Starmer was going to set out a timetable for his departure.
-
By then, the peak summer rush has eased, many families have returned home and the islands begin to regain some breathing room.
Verb
-
In October 2025 Anthropic launched Claude for Life Sciences, the first time that the company released a product for a specific vertical market.
-
Then last week, the agency released a more in-depth analysis of 2024 infant mortality data, offering details not yet available for 2025.
Adjective
-
The undone to-do list has become a social occasion.
-
Here's a looser, more undone example.
Cite this Entry
“Loosened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loosened. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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