Synonyms of loosening

loosening 1 of 2

verb

present participle of loosen

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• relaxing
• easing
• detaching
• slackening
• slacking
• undoing
• untying
• freeing
• unfastening
• unbinding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• tightening
• stretching
• straining
• binding
• attaching
• tying
• fastening
• tensing
• tensioning
• restraining
• constraining

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

• freeing
• releasing
• liberating
• rescuing
• saving
• loosing
• enlarging
• springing
• emancipating
• unbinding
• enfranchising
• unfettering
• turning loose
• manumitting
• discharging
• unchaining
• disenthralling
• uncaging
• disengaging
• bailing (out)
• ransoming
• redeeming
• extricating
• paroling
• disentangling
• delivering
• unshackling
• disembarrassing
• disencumbering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• restraining
• binding
• confining
• fettering
• shackling
• handcuffing
• locking (up)
• enchaining
• imprisoning
• committing
• jailing
• incarcerating
• subjugating
• conquering
• subduing
• enslaving
• interning
• manacling
• trammeling
• immuring

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

• unleashing
• releasing
• unlocking
• loosing
• expressing
• letting go
• unloosening
• unloosing
• uncorking
• freeing
• springing
• liberating
• emancipating
• airing
• enfranchising
• unshackling
• unfettering
• unbinding
• unmooring
• unchaining
• manumitting
• discharging
• venting
• uncaging
• taking out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• controlling
• restraining
• governing
• regulating
• holding
• inhibiting
• constraining
• curbing
• containing
• checking
• smothering
• taming
• reining (in)
• binding
• bridling
• handcuffing
• confining
• shackling
• hampering
• manacling
• fettering
• trammeling
• enchaining
• haltering

loosening

2 of 2

noun

as in unfixing

Related Words

• unfixing
• unsticking
• detachment

Dissimilar Words

• adherence
• bonding
• adhesion
• cling
• cohesion
• attachment
• agglutination
• clumping
• tenacity
• cohesiveness
• adhesiveness

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of loosening

Verb

National conservatives, for instance, oppose loosening the United States’ ties with Israel and tolerating Chinese and Russian imperialism. — Leonard A. Schuette, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026

So will a flood of 401(k) money, thanks to loosening rules about what investments belong in Americans’ retirement accounts. — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 20 Aug. 2026

El Dorado County supervisors took a step toward loosening controversial regulations on vacation properties like Airbnbs and Vrbo rentals on the county’s west slope. — Haley Parsley august 20, Sacbee.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Preservationists have voiced concerns that vibrations created by the cars could damage artworks by cracking canvases or loosening mounts. — Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026

Carefully remove the plant from its nursery pot, gently loosening the roots or canes. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 14 Aug. 2026

Even before this summer’s heat, the EU had begun loosening a number of its emissions targets and delaying the phaseout of gas and diesel vehicles, in an apparent effort to blunt the far right’s use of green policies as a campaign issue. — Ned Temko, Christian Science Monitor, 13 Aug. 2026

The commemoration unfolded as Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi pushes to expand Japan’s offensive military capabilities, raising questions about loosening postwar nonnuclear principles. — Mari Yamaguchi, Los Angeles Times, 9 Aug. 2026

The two countries struck a memorandum of understanding in June aimed at halting the conflict, restoring shipping traffic, launching negotiations over Iran's nuclear program and eventually loosening sanctions on Iran. — Joe Walsh, CBS News, 7 Aug. 2026

Noun

Consider the loosening of enforcement of energy sanctions on Russia. — Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Time, 16 July 2026

But over time, players and teams have pushed for a loosening of some restrictions surrounding the iPads. — Eno Sarris, New York Times, 16 July 2026

The Safety Debate That Didn’t Go Away Not everyone is convinced the loosening makes sense. — Allison Palmer updated June 24, Charlotte Observer, 24 June 2026

Although jeans may be more relaxed around the legs, there is still a case for stretch materials to provide comfort and ease as well as recovery or bounce back, preventing bagged out knees and loosening. — Sarah Jones, Footwear News, 12 June 2026

As the Union-Tribune’s Lucas Robinson noted, that money was made available by an earlier loosening of restrictions on dipping into the reserve — a policy advanced by the Board of Supervisors’ three Democrats and opposed by its two Republicans. — Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 May 2026

There has been some loosening on those expectations for traditional journalists, which varies significantly by organization, beat, and medium. — Jeremy Saks, Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 May 2026

Shortly thereafter, gaps between high and low performers began to grow at the national level, which many education scholars attribute both to the introduction of screens and the loosening of accountability. — Abby McCloskey, Twin Cities, 12 Apr. 2026

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