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
-
Wood is said to be keen to prioritize other writing, while the BBC was relaxed about moving on from the series.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
11 May 2026
-
The wide-leg pants are relaxed without looking sloppy and the zip-up jacket comes in handy when the plane or a cafe suddenly feels like a refrigerator.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Later that month she was freed.—
Jade le Deley,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
-
While his son and his friend continued their daylong wait for him just outside, the refugee was freed, only to be detained and taken to a Homeland Security facility.—
Dan Barry,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
In the aftermath of the BAFTA Film Awards, the BBC created a new set of protocols, which now need to be unleashed without a hitch as the public broadcaster bids to avoid a repeat of the disaster.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
8 May 2026
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And in 2023, Euphoria creator Sam Levinson unleashed his divisive follow-up The Idol on the French.—
Savannah Walsh,
Vanity Fair,
8 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 15 May. 2026.
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