1
as in loosened
not tightly fastened, tied, or stretched
secure your neckerchief with a loose knot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unconsolidated
consisting of particles that do not stick together
the car wheels slipped on the loose gravel in the driveway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in flexible
not bound by rigid standards
we tend to be loose with the dress code when we aren't hosting clients at the office
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in free
not bound, confined, or detained by force
there was a brief panic when the lion got loose from its cage at the zoo
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in approximate
not precisely correct
a loose guess about the size of the crowd at the outdoor concert
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in corrupt
having or showing lowered moral character or standards
the loose life that he led in the years before he settled down and found his path
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to fire
to cause (a projectile) to be driven forward with force
the archers loosed a great volley of arrows at the foot soldiers charging towards them
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to unleash
to find emotional release for
do not loose your pent-up frustrations on the next person who happens by
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to free
to set free (as from slavery or confinement)
the ranchers loosed the horses from their stables and into the paddock
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to loosen
to set free (from a state of being held in check)
the storm loosed its full fury when it hit the coastline at high tide
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 loose
Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2025
There was a looser scene on a weeknight, when a round of frosty Martinis, a sampling of cloudy, tart orange wines, and a peppery bottle of red, shared with two colleagues, seemed less like a life-style statement and more like a bold recommitment to the very act of living.
—Hilton Als, New Yorker, 16 May 2025
Megan Morrone, Axios, 24 Jan. 2025
When quantity is the most cherished currency, quality looses out.
—Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for loose
Adjective
Her hair was styled half up and half down with loose curls.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 16 May 2025
There was a looser scene on a weeknight, when a round of frosty Martinis, a sampling of cloudy, tart orange wines, and a peppery bottle of red, shared with two colleagues, seemed less like a life-style statement and more like a bold recommitment to the very act of living.
—Hilton Als, New Yorker, 16 May 2025
Verb
Between the lines: OpenAI views Operator as the first baby steps toward loosing its AI on the world beyond ChatGPT's window.
—Megan Morrone, Axios, 24 Jan. 2025
When quantity is the most cherished currency, quality looses out.
—Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for loose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loose
Adjective
-
Management identified a material weakness in internal controls related to verifying information from unconsolidated subsidiaries, which has been addressed with new procedures.—
Quartz Intelligence Newsroom,
Quartz,
1 Apr. 2025
-
Related article Massive sinkhole threatens to swallow West Virginia police department Takashi Oguchi, a geographer from the University of Tokyo, said sinkholes are rare in Japan, where most roads are built on unconsolidated fluvial and marine sediments.—
Yumi Asada, Chris Lau and Minori Konishi,
CNN,
31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Despite its grandeur, over the centuries the palace proved to be a flexible structure, capable of accommodating additions, splits, partitions, changes of ownership and use.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
24 May 2025
-
After all, supportive sneakers for walking through a city, flexible pants for long-haul flights, and versatile pieces that can be worn multiple times throughout a trip are essentials on any packing list.—
Rachel Trujillo,
Travel + Leisure,
24 May 2025
Adjective
-
Sandisk includes a free download of Acronis True Image backup and migration software with the purchase of the SN8100.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
14 May 2025
-
Burial evidence linked to potential victims of obstetric deaths suggests not all infants who died early received proper burials or were even born free.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 May 2025
Adjective
-
To Sturzenegger, that was in the approximate vicinity where Warren said the initial searches for Brick took place.—
David Chiu,
People.com,
14 May 2025
-
The 860,000 complaints, about 256,000 of which were related to actual financial loss, trail 2023's approximate 880,000 complaints.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 May 2025
Adjective
-
In fact, Evans’ plotline as the corrupt Reverend Drew essentially runs parallel to Qualley’s and the lack of intersection is a curious oversight.—
Esther Zuckerman,
IndieWire,
23 May 2025
-
According to the minister, high-ranking criminals are able to use their illicit earnings to corrupt officials, and some are able to continue to run their operations from inside prison..—
Jack Guy,
CNN Money,
19 May 2025
Verb
-
In the collider, lead ions are fired at each other at nearly the speed of light, either hitting one another or passing close to others.—
George Petras,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
-
Ryan Gerard fired an opening 66 in his first career PGA Championship round.—
Justin Ray,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
Verb
-
That’s because Hollywood is set to unleash a steady stream of horror films from now till the end of August.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
17 May 2025
-
The transaction will unleash billions of dollars in new infrastructure builds in communities across the country.—
David Shepardson,
USA Today,
17 May 2025
Verb
-
However, he was granted his request at the Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday, May 21, according to the BBC, and was released on a $6.7 million bail.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
23 May 2025
-
The game was officially released on May 22, 1980 in Japanese arcades before launching in the United States in October 1980, according to the Pac-Man website.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
23 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Loose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loose. Accessed 29 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share