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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of loosened (up)
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
And though this slick east-side restaurant has loosened up a bit, the razor-sharp staff still runs the place like the fine-dining spectacle it's been for 20 years, with perfect pacing and so much poise.
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 22 Oct. 2025
The previous week, Emily was at a sleepover at Heather’s house with Gretchen, when Gretchen, loosened up by shots of Fireball whiskey, revealed that Tamra once recorded a song, badly, according to Gretchen, with an unnamed boy band star that Gretchen claims Tamra got frisky with.
—Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 27 Sep. 2025
But after a few uses and washes, it’s loosened up and now feels perfect for the combination of my head and hair size.
—Ayana Underwood, Outside, 20 Sep. 2025
Verb
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
And though this slick east-side restaurant has loosened up a bit, the razor-sharp staff still runs the place like the fine-dining spectacle it's been for 20 years, with perfect pacing and so much poise.
—Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 22 Oct. 2025
The previous week, Emily was at a sleepover at Heather’s house with Gretchen, when Gretchen, loosened up by shots of Fireball whiskey, revealed that Tamra once recorded a song, badly, according to Gretchen, with an unnamed boy band star that Gretchen claims Tamra got frisky with.
—Peter Larsen, Oc Register, 27 Sep. 2025
But after a few uses and washes, it’s loosened up and now feels perfect for the combination of my head and hair size.
—Ayana Underwood, Outside, 20 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loosened (up)
Verb
-
But it is being facilitated by doctors and specialized pharmacies that are principally regulated at the state level, legal experts say, as well as unregulated sources that operate outside the typical guardrails designed to assure drug quality.—
Daniel Gilbert,
CBS News,
8 June 2026
-
These walks have facilitated a level of candid, unstructured dialogue that builds the relational capital necessary to weather the inevitable storms of a startup.—
Vikram Joshi,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
As with every suite, furnishings are designed by Urquiola to be relaxed, neutral, and comfortable, keeping your attention firmly on the magnificent location.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
This maxi skirt is another versatile warm-weather staple — it's relaxed for daytime, but easy to dress up with simple accessories for evening plans.—
Tanya Sharma,
PEOPLE,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Loosened (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loosened%20%28up%29. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
