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
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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
Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2026
In 2019, the Legislature passed House Bill 2458, loosening some regulations around the organization and authorizing the sale of promotional items.
—Paul Flahive, Austin American Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026
This basically turns it into a small T-style driver that provides extra leverage for loosening screws or jammed fasteners.
—Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 4 Mar. 2026
Gražinytė-Tyla led the Philharmonic premiere of his Fifth Symphony, written in 1961 as the tyranny was loosening just enough to make way for the score’s wild emotional topography.
—Justin Davidson, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2026
To manage the disorder, people with cystic fibrosis can do a variety of daily therapies with the goal of loosening mucus from the lungs, preventing infection and treating intestinal blockages.
—Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
Now, in an age of instant communications, their Cold War counterparts could nonetheless disappear into a covert netherworld, loosening Washington’s controls and freeing them to plot coups, mobilize armies, and install governments.
—Alfred McCoy, Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
Anthropic, a company founded by OpenAI exiles worried about the dangers of AI, is loosening its core safety principle in response to competition.
—Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 25 Feb. 2026
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will terminate Anthropic's $200 million contract with the military by Friday unless the artificial intelligence lab agrees to loosening its safety standards.
—Bobby Allyn, NPR, 24 Feb. 2026
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
During his pontificate, Francis faced strong resistance from some conservative cardinals to some of his reforms, particularly on his loosening of rules banning divorced and remarried Catholics from communion and his welcome to gay Catholics.
—Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
The gradual loosening of restrictions against cannabis and cannabinoids helped make room in the market for other herbal and botanical products.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 28 Dec. 2025
The latter deal requires a loosening of rules prohibiting broadcast owners from owning TV stations reaching more than 39% of the national television audience.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 28 Dec. 2025
This wheel effectively does away with complicated fit tweaks, allowing for single-handed precision tightening and loosening – even while wearing gloves.
—New Atlas, 25 Dec. 2025
Verb
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
In 2019, the Legislature passed House Bill 2458, loosening some regulations around the organization and authorizing the sale of promotional items.
—Paul Flahive, Austin American Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026
This basically turns it into a small T-style driver that provides extra leverage for loosening screws or jammed fasteners.
—Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 4 Mar. 2026
Gražinytė-Tyla led the Philharmonic premiere of his Fifth Symphony, written in 1961 as the tyranny was loosening just enough to make way for the score’s wild emotional topography.
—Justin Davidson, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2026
To manage the disorder, people with cystic fibrosis can do a variety of daily therapies with the goal of loosening mucus from the lungs, preventing infection and treating intestinal blockages.
—Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026
Now, in an age of instant communications, their Cold War counterparts could nonetheless disappear into a covert netherworld, loosening Washington’s controls and freeing them to plot coups, mobilize armies, and install governments.
—Alfred McCoy, Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
Anthropic, a company founded by OpenAI exiles worried about the dangers of AI, is loosening its core safety principle in response to competition.
—Clare Duffy, CNN Money, 25 Feb. 2026
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will terminate Anthropic's $200 million contract with the military by Friday unless the artificial intelligence lab agrees to loosening its safety standards.
—Bobby Allyn, NPR, 24 Feb. 2026
Noun
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
During his pontificate, Francis faced strong resistance from some conservative cardinals to some of his reforms, particularly on his loosening of rules banning divorced and remarried Catholics from communion and his welcome to gay Catholics.
—Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 9 Jan. 2026
The gradual loosening of restrictions against cannabis and cannabinoids helped make room in the market for other herbal and botanical products.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 28 Dec. 2025
The latter deal requires a loosening of rules prohibiting broadcast owners from owning TV stations reaching more than 39% of the national television audience.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 28 Dec. 2025
This wheel effectively does away with complicated fit tweaks, allowing for single-handed precision tightening and loosening – even while wearing gloves.
—New Atlas, 25 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loosening
Verb
-
High Heel Jungle socks combine luxury comfort with performance features designed for both active and relaxing moments.—
Tory Johnson,
ABC News,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The best lounge sets work for more than just relaxing around the house.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Ryan Poles was busy this week freeing up salary-cap space.—
Sean Hammond,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Those softer skills may become even more valuable as AI becomes more prevalent, freeing up time to spend on deeper relationships and more clients.—
Allison Schrager,
Twin Cities,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In addition to unleashing intense winds, Melissa produced catastrophic flooding, destructive storm surge and widespread economic devastation.—
Jacqueline Charles,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Above all, unleashing America’s promise requires keeping our community safe.—
TIME Staff,
Time,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Whether the spike proves temporary remains uncertain as the war shows few signs of easing.—
Nur Hikmah Md Ali,
CNBC,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Meanwhile, Iranian retaliatory attacks appear to be declining — ballistic missile strikes have fallen by 90% and drone attacks by 83%, according to US Central Command — potentially easing pressure on Gulf states that have faced Iranian strikes in recent days.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Last year, more than a third of artists making $10,000 on the platform in royalties started by self-releasing their music through independent distributors.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Images show a diffuse coma and faint dust tail created as sunlight heats the comet's ices, releasing gas and dust into space.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Vertex's successful trial is an important first step in unlocking a new franchise in kidney disease, said Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Carter Gould.—
Angelica Peebles,
CNBC,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The Flyers’ offensive schemes have been sketchy this year, so a move to a playoff-caliber roster, alongside two difference-makers, could be the key to unlocking his game.—
Shayna Goldman,
New York Times,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
There have been at least 15 reports of the zipper head detaching from the garment, the CPSC said Thursday, but no injuries have been reported.—
Kiki Intarasuwan,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The agency added that Weber is aware of at least 38 reports of bristles detaching, including four cases that required medical treatment.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The process is prescriptive, but the effect is liberating.—
Emma Madden,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Mar. 2026
-
Both were premised on the idea of frictionless ease, liberating their users from outmoded toils.—
Jake Lundberg,
The Atlantic,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Loosening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loosening. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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