Synonyms of loosened (up)

loosened (up) 1 of 2

verb (1)

past tense of loosen (up)

as in facilitated

to free from obstruction or difficulty

hoped that adding a second lane would loosen up traffic on that street

Synonyms & Similar Words

• facilitated
• accelerated
• improved
• paved the way (for)
• promoted
• eased
• simplified
• smoothed
• greased
• straightened (out)
• sped
• assisted
• forwarded
• unclogged
• hurried
• helped
• aided
• expedited
• hastened
• quickened
• furthered
• rushed
• advanced
• abetted
• streamlined
• disentangled
• untangled

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• complicated
• hindered
• impeded
• aggravated
• sophisticated
• retarded
• worsened
• perplexed

loosened up

2 of 2

verb (2)

past tense of loosen up

as in relaxed

to get rid of nervous tension or anxiety

a high-pressure job that makes it hard for him to loosen up even on weekends

Synonyms & Similar Words

• relaxed
• hung loose
• mellowed (out)
• wound down
• chilled
• chilled out
• rested
• unwound
• decompressed
• composed
• kicked back
• de-stressed
• basked
• hacked (around)
• settled
• hung (around or out)
• goofed (off)
• zoned out
• dillydallied
• unbent
• comforted
• lounged
• calmed
• bummed
• relieved
• alleviated
• cooled
• reposed
• vegged out
• lazed
• idled
• eased
• footled
• dawdled
• lolled
• vegetated
• quieted
• droned
• loafed
• dallied

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• tensed (up)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of loosened (up)

Verb

Navy, white and red carried throughout the lineup, which looked back to the designer’s signature ’90s prep but loosened up. — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 11 Sep. 2026

Eventually, Cease loosened up enough to mow through many Red Sox. — Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 26 July 2026

A lot has changed since then—the designer shuffle means most brands have new creative directors, and the men’s silhouette has certainly loosened up a bit (though maybe be coming back down to Earth). — Irene Kim, Vogue, 13 June 2026

Pick up any grime the steam loosened up and wipe down the tiles as well as the grout. — Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 18 May 2026

But France loosened up and Italy fired back with a Capuozzo try and a Paolo Garbisi penalty. — ABC News, 22 Feb. 2026

At the show's afterparty, Browne and his models—some still wearing the metallic hair adornments from the show—loosened up a bit as a DJ positioned in one corner of the tent attempted to manifest Latifah with a quick mix of her hits. — Eve Batey, Vanity Fair, 7 Feb. 2026

Skarsgård explained that the same thing was applied to his facial expressions, to assure that the character loosened up over the course of the film. — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 25 Jan. 2026

Millions of Americans, especially the richest, took advantage of the ultra-low interest rates during the pandemic, when the Fed loosened up monetary policy to shore up the economy. — Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 27 Dec. 2025