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
Austin Sarat, The Conversation, 4 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
The reins were loosened and the horse began to gallop and flare its nostrils.
—Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 31 May 2026
That decade, Serie A loosened its prohibition on foreigners, setting quotas that allowed three foreign players per club by 1988.
—Albert Samaha, New Yorker, 30 May 2026
The cabin hadn’t changed, but the reins had been loosened.
—Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 30 May 2026
The coroner said that Winger was dining on the restaurant's patio with her husband when a strong gust of wind loosened an umbrella from a table and struck the woman.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 25 May 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
In 1894, Will Purvis’ hanging also failed when the noose loosened.
—Austin Sarat, The Conversation, 4 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
The reins were loosened and the horse began to gallop and flare its nostrils.
—Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 31 May 2026
That decade, Serie A loosened its prohibition on foreigners, setting quotas that allowed three foreign players per club by 1988.
—Albert Samaha, New Yorker, 30 May 2026
The cabin hadn’t changed, but the reins had been loosened.
—Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 30 May 2026
The coroner said that Winger was dining on the restaurant's patio with her husband when a strong gust of wind loosened an umbrella from a table and struck the woman.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 25 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loosened
Adjective
-
As a result, officers are prioritizing animal cruelty and neglect cases over calls about loose dogs.—
Jasmine Arenas,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
-
That loose recommendation is not backed up by science, says Robert Vincent, a former federal public health analyst who helped get the new study off the ground.—
Claire Cameron,
Scientific American,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
But as the metrics by which lenders evaluate borrowers have relaxed slightly, conditions have eroded.—
Andrea Riquier,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
-
Barr notes that the share of large banks rated as well-managed under the new, more permissive framework doubled from the end of 2024 to recent observations — not because banks got better, but because the grading curve was relaxed.—
Mayra Rodriguez Valladares,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
So much of it comes down to economics, to not being freed from unethical labor practices.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 June 2026
-
The album is filled with narrators who either beg to be freed from their pain or who, more often than not, are being beaten into sedation.—
Mankaprr Conteh,
Pitchfork,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Taking the helm as bureau chief in 1980, Briscoe charted the waning years of Ferdinand Marcos’ authoritarian regime and the turmoil unleashed by the assassination of opposition leader Benigno Aquino Jr.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 June 2026
-
Fox News contributor and OutKick founder Clay Travis unleashed on the National Football League in a heartfelt testimony regarding the cost of watching games from home.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
10 June 2026
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.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
17 May 2026
-
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
Verb
-
The couple said the raids eased after federal immigration agents killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2026
-
Resistance to artificial turf might be eased if the city had taken the time to explain in great detail its benefits and risks.—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
Pratt’s campaign team didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment after the latest vote tallies were released Sunday night.—
Noah Goldberg,
Los Angeles Times,
8 June 2026
-
Jurges gallantly refused to press charges, and Popovich was released from custody.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
Thin ties dropped from the neckline of the bohemian-leaning silhouette, giving the dress a slightly undone finish against the high-shine black heels.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
6 June 2026
-
All of these cuts favor a natural, undone finish.—
Elle Turner,
Glamour,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Loosened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loosened. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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