Synonyms of loosened

loosened 1 of 2

adjective

as in loose

not tightly fastened, tied, or stretched

the loosened nuts finally dropped off of the screws

Synonyms & Similar Words

• loose
• slack
• relaxed
• undone
• detached
• slackened
• lax
• unsecured
• insecure
• untied
• unbound
• unfastened
• unattached
• free
• baggy
• saggy
• blousy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• tight
• taut
• tense
• restrained
• constrained
• bound
• attached
• tied
• firm
• stuck
• fast
• fastened
• jammed
• wedged
• snug

loosened

2 of 2

verb

past tense of loosen

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

• relaxed
• eased
• slackened
• detached
• slacked
• untied
• undid
• freed
• unfastened
• unbound

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• tightened
• stretched
• attached
• bound
• tied
• strained
• fastened
• tensed
• tensioned
• restrained
• constrained

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

• freed
• released
• liberated
• rescued
• loosed
• saved
• enlarged
• sprang
• emancipated
• turned loose
• enfranchised
• unbound
• manumitted
• discharged
• unchained
• disenthralled
• unfettered
• uncaged
• paroled
• bailed (out)
• extricated
• ransomed
• redeemed
• disengaged
• disentangled
• delivered
• unshackled
• disencumbered
• disembarrassed

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• bound
• confined
• restrained
• fettered
• shackled
• handcuffed
• imprisoned
• enchained
• locked (up)
• committed
• incarcerated
• jailed
• interned
• manacled
• subdued
• conquered
• subjugated
• trammeled
• enslaved
• immured

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

• unleashed
• released
• unloosed
• loosed
• unlocked
• unloosened
• uncorked
• let go
• expressed
• liberated
• aired
• unshackled
• sprang
• freed
• emancipated
• enfranchised
• unbound
• manumitted
• unchained
• unfettered
• unmoored
• discharged
• vented
• uncaged
• took out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• held
• restrained
• controlled
• checked
• contained
• regulated
• inhibited
• constrained
• governed
• curbed
• tamed
• smothered
• bridled
• reined (in)
• shackled
• bound
• handcuffed
• confined
• fettered
• hampered
• manacled
• trammeled
• enchained
• haltered

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of loosened

Adjective

Use a damp microfiber cloth to wipe away the loosened gum and any soapy residue. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 9 Aug. 2026

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

Each era's binding constraint, once loosened, ceased to be where advantage lived, and the frontier moved. — Dr. Aditya Vikram Kashyap, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Once the ground is cleared and loosened, work in a layer of topsoil, compost, or fertilizer before laying down seed. — Amanda Tust, Architectural Digest, 7 Aug. 2026

As fear loosened its grip, so did the physical and emotional strain that had accompanied it. — Liesl Ehmke, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Aug. 2026

And so the incumbent party lost, and then the Federal Reserve recognized its mistake, loosened in 2016, and the economy accelerated in 2017, 2018, 2019. — David Frum, The Atlantic, 29 July 2026

Relatedly, restitution may begin to address the pain that has become ubiquitous, an opportunity to unlatch the tentacle grips of oppression, which can be loosened through collective organizing, with something for everyone and not just a few. — Literary Hub, 27 July 2026

To see their full capabilities, the company loosened the safeguards that normally block dangerous hacks. — Chris Stokel-Walker, Scientific American, 22 July 2026

That’s not something most people talked about or perhaps even knew about as officials loosened development regulations to boost housing construction. — Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2026

These guidelines were loosened after the team's first two matches. — Jamie Gray, NBC news, 9 July 2026