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
Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2025
Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 9 Nov. 2025
Tokyo has quietly loosened visa rules for workers in key industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, and caregiving amid labor shortages driven by a falling birth rate and declining interest among Japanese workers.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
New beds should be dug or loosened to a depth of 12 inches for varieties with larger bulbs.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2025
That change is possible because California recently loosened its purification rules to allow purified wastewater to be pumped directly into a water system, instead of being stored for months in reservoirs or underground basins.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2025
In September, the Kansas City Council loosened those restrictions for the possibility of a 275-foot tall tower on the former Nordstrom’s site.
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2025
Their content settings can't be loosened without parental consent.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025
The impact has loosened something around the engine, and now the car’s not quite running right.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2025
The change represents a shift in how OpenAI approaches content restrictions, which the company had loosened in February but then dramatically tightened after an August lawsuit from parents of a teen who died by suicide after allegedly receiving encouragement from ChatGPT.
—ArsTechnica, 15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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
Verb
The loosened slightly at the ankle, creating natural folds above a thin stiletto heel.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 9 Nov. 2025
Tokyo has quietly loosened visa rules for workers in key industries such as manufacturing, agriculture, and caregiving amid labor shortages driven by a falling birth rate and declining interest among Japanese workers.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
New beds should be dug or loosened to a depth of 12 inches for varieties with larger bulbs.
—Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Oct. 2025
That change is possible because California recently loosened its purification rules to allow purified wastewater to be pumped directly into a water system, instead of being stored for months in reservoirs or underground basins.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2025
In September, the Kansas City Council loosened those restrictions for the possibility of a 275-foot tall tower on the former Nordstrom’s site.
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2025
Their content settings can't be loosened without parental consent.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2025
The impact has loosened something around the engine, and now the car’s not quite running right.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2025
The change represents a shift in how OpenAI approaches content restrictions, which the company had loosened in February but then dramatically tightened after an August lawsuit from parents of a teen who died by suicide after allegedly receiving encouragement from ChatGPT.
—ArsTechnica, 15 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loosened
Adjective
-
Midway through the third quarter, true freshman linebacker Mason Posa, buried on the depth chart just weeks ago, ripped the ball loose at Washington’s 7-yard line and fell on it himself.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Sanford jarred the ball loose as Zollers was loading up to pass, and the ball caromed to A&M’s Dalton Brooks virtually in stride behind Zollers.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
To her, après-ski, as a sport, is relaxed, comfortable, social, playful and glamorous.—
Tianwei Zhang,
Footwear News,
6 Nov. 2025
-
The space is relaxed and beautiful, hung with works by local artists.—
Alli Forde,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Once she is freed, Dek discover the robot is missing her bottom half.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
4 Nov. 2025
-
And, of course, Amherst had freed Black people, and I was told that there were Black people who were working for the family outside of the house, in the fields and gardens.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Vanderbilt has been working on tempo all season, hasn’t used it a ton in games yet, but unleashed it Saturday and caused trouble.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Charlotte unleashed a 27-2 run, closing to within one.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
With power diffused among top leaders and their allies in the bureaucracy, party discipline was slack.—
Jonathan A. Czin,
Foreign Affairs,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Oscar Bobb seized on a slack pass and led a counter-attack with Haaland and Reijnders on either side.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The France midfielder signed from Lyon in the summer has been eased into his Premier League career after a two-month injury layoff, with Guardiola using him mostly as an impact substitute since returning to action in mid-October.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
While spontaneous mentions of high prices increased for a fifth month, inflation expectations eased over the longer term.—
Bloomberg News,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
On an email chain including seven of Stryker’s lawyers, the company’s legal team filed a motion for a temporary restraining order on the records, more than an hour after UC released them to The Enquirer.—
Elizabeth B. Kim,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
12 Nov. 2025
-
Jay Maytorena, 22, listed as a current or former student, was cited and released for refusing to leave and obstruction.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
12 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Though often appearing stylish and refined, with an air of unshakable confidence, like a real-life James Bond, Farzam seemed to come undone in recent years.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
2 Nov. 2025
-
And in October 2025, her daughter emulated mom's rosy glow and undone hair in the same dress at the PAC NYC Icons of Culture Gala alongside dad Michael Douglas.—
Alex Apatoff,
PEOPLE,
30 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Loosened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loosened. Accessed 21 Nov. 2025.
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