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
Auzinea Bacon, CNN Money, 28 Feb. 2026
The Austin City Council on Thursday indefinitely postponed a controversial proposal that would have loosened long-standing city regulations governing billboard placement, shelving — at least for now — a measure that had reignited one of City Hall’s most durable land-use battles.
—Chaya Tong, Austin American Statesman, 27 Feb. 2026
But losing against Brentford and Everton scarred them and loosened their grip on a Champions League place.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2026
Once loosened, use a plastic scraper or credit card to lift the residue.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 19 Feb. 2026
Dubai loosened Ramadan restrictions in 2021 in a bid to kickstart its tourism industry after COVID lockdowns.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 19 Feb. 2026
Use clean water to rinse the floors and remove the dirt that's been loosened.
—Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 18 Feb. 2026
The state recently loosened its reliance on the American Bar Association for law-school accreditation and is working with other red states to build its own alternative regional accreditor, the Commission for Public Higher Education.
—Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
Los Angeles loosened conversion rules, allowing commercial buildings just 15 years old to become housing with streamlined city approvals instead of lengthy reviews.
—Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 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
Verb
Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Anthropic had loosened its core safety policy to better adapt to a fast-moving market in which competitors may not abide by the same safety standards.
—Auzinea Bacon, CNN Money, 28 Feb. 2026
The Austin City Council on Thursday indefinitely postponed a controversial proposal that would have loosened long-standing city regulations governing billboard placement, shelving — at least for now — a measure that had reignited one of City Hall’s most durable land-use battles.
—Chaya Tong, Austin American Statesman, 27 Feb. 2026
But losing against Brentford and Everton scarred them and loosened their grip on a Champions League place.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2026
Once loosened, use a plastic scraper or credit card to lift the residue.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 19 Feb. 2026
Dubai loosened Ramadan restrictions in 2021 in a bid to kickstart its tourism industry after COVID lockdowns.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 19 Feb. 2026
Use clean water to rinse the floors and remove the dirt that's been loosened.
—Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 18 Feb. 2026
The state recently loosened its reliance on the American Bar Association for law-school accreditation and is working with other red states to build its own alternative regional accreditor, the Commission for Public Higher Education.
—Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
Los Angeles loosened conversion rules, allowing commercial buildings just 15 years old to become housing with streamlined city approvals instead of lengthy reviews.
—Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loosened
Adjective
-
Wear it over jeans or a coat for a waist-defining moment; knotted over your shoulder as a capelet, or loose for undone elegance.—
Talia Abbas,
Vogue,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Beckett Sennecke kept the puck and shot on a two-on-one break, with Kreider backhanding the loose puck in at the side of the net.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The State Department later, relaxed its warning for certain areas.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Below the outpost on the hill, around the multiplying fires, families of cultures just as alien to the outsiders relaxed in shelters of poles and bark ripped from huge pines.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Some business leaders have argued the prime downtown land could be freed for redevelopment, potentially reshaping the city’s core and unlocking private investment if City Hall relocates.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Ng was arrested on Sunday and freed on $150,000 bond, secured by his sister, following a remote video hearing, so planned because of the snowstorm.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But questions are mounting over whether the country can contain the chaos unleashed by the killing of a drug lord.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
26 Feb. 2026
-
While a surge in outmigration from the Valley unleashed by the COVID-19 pandemic and remote work has subsided, more residents are still leaving the region than arriving from other parts of the United States.—
Ethan Varian,
Mercury News,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
But what happens when the detox is over and the chorus of text pings, slack dings and social media notifications swells throughout the rest of the year?—
Deborah Vankin,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Jan. 2026
-
The mysterious Beast of Sugar Flats Road The head of the Beast of Sugar Flats Road looks like something out of a horror movie with its white-yellow fur, blackish skin, slack jaw, missing teeth and glass eyes.—
Craig Shoup,
Nashville Tennessean,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The buzz around the awards eased its potentially tricky transition to Manchester, with the industry turning out in force.—
Mark Sutherland,
Variety,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Last year, Henley prevailed at 11-under par 277, but got there only after conditions eased.—
Edgar Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Officials have not released the identities or ages of the two people killed or the 14 people injured.—
Amanda Musa,
CNN Money,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Officials have not yet released further operational details about the aircraft involved or the broader security situation.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Wear it over jeans or a coat for a waist-defining moment; knotted over your shoulder as a capelet, or loose for undone elegance.—
Talia Abbas,
Vogue,
28 Feb. 2026
-
In contrast to her undone hairstyle, Chopra looked ready for a day at the office in a polished white jumpsuit featuring a crisp dress shirt bodice, eyelet cutouts running down the front, and wide-legged trousers.—
Lara Walsh,
InStyle,
25 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Loosened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loosened. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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