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

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

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

Despite this admonition, FHP loosened its chase policy two and a half years ago, freeing troopers to use PIT maneuvers to stop fleeing suspects. — Brittany Wallman, Miami Herald, 9 July 2026

Officials said continuous rain and hillside torrents loosened soil on slopes, causing makeshift houses to collapse. — ABC News, 7 July 2026

Feminist progress loosened assumptions that men and women naturally complete one another through heterosexual relationships. — Ann M. Merriwether, The Conversation, 7 July 2026

Plus, the straps can be tightened or loosened to your liking. — Emily Weaver, PEOPLE, 1 July 2026

The ruling is the latest in a series of Supreme Court decisions that have loosened campaign finance restrictions, overturning a 2001 precedent that upheld the spending limits. — Michel Martin, NPR, 1 July 2026

Those allocations have loosened now, not because the wines have lost their lustre, but because the broader American wine business is on the back foot. — Paul Caputo, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026