1
as in relaxing
to make less taut
the lead climber loosened the climbing rope so that the other climber could have more room to maneuver
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in freeing
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 unleashing
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
as in unfixing
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Recent Examples of loosening
Riane Lumer, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
The Nashville Predators moseyed westward for a California swing that started with a tie-breaking triumph against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday, continued with another deadlock-loosening clash with the Kings on Monday and will wrap up versus the Ducks on Tuesday.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 6 Apr. 2026
That’s when something tightened, a brief, instinctual clam-closing and then loosening again just as fast.
—Dawn Lerman, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
Lawmakers will debate bills related to loosening gun regulations at colleges in at least eight states this year, including Florida, Louisiana, New Hampshire, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Why insurance hasn't fixed the problem Insurance, the typical market mechanism for navigating risk, has proven largely ineffective for loosening traffic in the strait, some analysts said.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
Picture Alliance | Picture Alliance | Getty Images Countries around the world have scrambled to cope with the fallout of the energy shock from the Iran war, imposing measures from fuel export bans, loosening refining standards, and even getting workers to climb stairs instead of taking elevators.
—Lim Hui Jie,sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 15 Mar. 2026
Before planting, spread a layer 4 or 5 inches deep over the planting area and use a shovel or fork to dig down about 8 to 10 inches, loosening the soil and mixing in the compost.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
Inventory loosening up One sign the housing market is loosening is an increasing ratio of sellers to buyers.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
Jennifer McLogan, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Iran’s loosening of Hormuz restrictions opens at least an opportunity for Iraq to resume some seaborne shipments, though other hurdles remain, including a lack of clarity on when and by how much the nation’s oil fields can ramp up output.
—Patrick Sykes, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2026
What remains unknown is what Cuban officials are prepared to concede or change in exchange for the loosening of restrictions.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
The opening two weeks of the current fighting, however, have seen a significant loosening of the restraints on targeting critical infrastructure.
—Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, The Conversation, 19 Mar. 2026
It’s also been exacerbated by increasing vaccine hesitancy, misinformation and the loosening of vaccination mandates.
—Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
This reduction in anticipated Fed loosening has been more digestible thanks to former growth dynamics.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 26 Jan. 2026
Parker cited a report from the Police Executive Research Forum, which noted the increase in injuries and deaths in Milwaukee following a loosening of its pursuit policy in 2015 and in the years that followed.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Others moved in the opposite direction, using federal ambiguity to justify loosening requirements and politicizing vaccination policy.
—Richard Hughes Iv, STAT, 12 Jan. 2026
Verb
Israel is loosening restrictions implemented during wartime after the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire, paving the way for schools and workplaces to reopen.
—Riane Lumer, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
The Nashville Predators moseyed westward for a California swing that started with a tie-breaking triumph against the San Jose Sharks on Saturday, continued with another deadlock-loosening clash with the Kings on Monday and will wrap up versus the Ducks on Tuesday.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 6 Apr. 2026
That’s when something tightened, a brief, instinctual clam-closing and then loosening again just as fast.
—Dawn Lerman, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
Lawmakers will debate bills related to loosening gun regulations at colleges in at least eight states this year, including Florida, Louisiana, New Hampshire, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 18 Mar. 2026
Why insurance hasn't fixed the problem Insurance, the typical market mechanism for navigating risk, has proven largely ineffective for loosening traffic in the strait, some analysts said.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
Picture Alliance | Picture Alliance | Getty Images Countries around the world have scrambled to cope with the fallout of the energy shock from the Iran war, imposing measures from fuel export bans, loosening refining standards, and even getting workers to climb stairs instead of taking elevators.
—Lim Hui Jie,sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 15 Mar. 2026
Before planting, spread a layer 4 or 5 inches deep over the planting area and use a shovel or fork to dig down about 8 to 10 inches, loosening the soil and mixing in the compost.
—Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 15 Mar. 2026
Inventory loosening up One sign the housing market is loosening is an increasing ratio of sellers to buyers.
—Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
Long Beach, Long Island, is holding a public hearing regarding the loosening of alcohol restrictions on its iconic boardwalk.
—Jennifer McLogan, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Iran’s loosening of Hormuz restrictions opens at least an opportunity for Iraq to resume some seaborne shipments, though other hurdles remain, including a lack of clarity on when and by how much the nation’s oil fields can ramp up output.
—Patrick Sykes, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2026
What remains unknown is what Cuban officials are prepared to concede or change in exchange for the loosening of restrictions.
—Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026
The opening two weeks of the current fighting, however, have seen a significant loosening of the restraints on targeting critical infrastructure.
—Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, The Conversation, 19 Mar. 2026
It’s also been exacerbated by increasing vaccine hesitancy, misinformation and the loosening of vaccination mandates.
—Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 30 Jan. 2026
This reduction in anticipated Fed loosening has been more digestible thanks to former growth dynamics.
—Michael Santoli, CNBC, 26 Jan. 2026
Parker cited a report from the Police Executive Research Forum, which noted the increase in injuries and deaths in Milwaukee following a loosening of its pursuit policy in 2015 and in the years that followed.
—David Clarey, jsonline.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Others moved in the opposite direction, using federal ambiguity to justify loosening requirements and politicizing vaccination policy.
—Richard Hughes Iv, STAT, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loosening
Verb
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For a relaxing post-race stay, check into the Mandarin Oriental Qianmen, Beijing, with its award-winning spa (after a massage, consider the tea meditation too) and standout dining options, from Italian to dim sum.—
Madison Flager,
Condé Nast Traveler,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Meditation exercises can set the stage for a good night’s sleep, and an inexpensive noise machine can help with relaxing sounds.—
Sharon Basaraba,
Verywell Health,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That shift is freeing early-career professionals to spend more time on analysis and client-facing work.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
5 Apr. 2026
-
In Austin, Texas, where the couple lives, Busby dedicated much of the past few months to freeing his wife.—
Alicia Victoria Lozano,
NBC news,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
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There might be bitterness in similar fights in F1’s deeper past, but unleashing this in 2026 would risk destabilizing the deep bonds Wolff clearly wants to protect.—
Alex Kalinauckas,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2026
-
In college baseball, Texas is again one of the top destinations in America, and Schlossnagle is unleashing the full power of Bevo’s possibilities.—
Mac Engel
April 8,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But there was no sign Iran was easing its closure of the strait crucial to global oil supplies.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Still, markets largely rallied over the past week on hopes that the war could end soon, easing supply pressure on global oil markets.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Buckingham was briefly detained while a dozen police officers searched the premises before determining his son was safe and releasing the musician from custody.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
8 Apr. 2026
-
In these decays, an atom of one element transforms into another while releasing its remaining energy in the form of an electron.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As experimental tools continue to improve, scientists will be able to explore the microscopic world with even greater precision, unlocking new possibilities for science and technology.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Philanthropy is at a tipping point, yet is more essential than ever in unlocking the inherent strength and potential within communities.—
Semafor Events,
semafor.com,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At the time of reporting, the company had received at least 68 reports of the wire bristles detaching from the brush.—
Amanda Greenwood,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Nexgrill is aware of at least 68 reports of bristles detaching, including five cases that required medical treatment, the CPSC said.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Because what was bad for his bank account was fantastic for his creative freedom, liberating Ehrenreich, who had been trapped on the anesthetizing career trajectory that’s a prerequisite for movie stardom, to embrace his wild side.—
Brent Lang,
Variety,
7 Apr. 2026
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If everything went right, the OpenAI founders believed, artificial intelligence could usher in a post-scarcity utopia, automating grunt work, curing cancer, and liberating people to enjoy lives of leisure and abundance.—
Ronan Farrow,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Loosening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loosening. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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