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
Michael Khouw, CNBC, 17 Feb. 2026
Air quality regulations and programs are loosening their restrictions.
—John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 13 Feb. 2026
However, loosening those connections would be extremely difficult and come with enormous costs, analysts told CNN.
—Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
Push-Ups to Downward-Facing Dog This strength-stretch combo move activates the chest, core, and arms while loosening the hamstrings and calves.
—Jenny McCoy, Outside, 30 Jan. 2026
Its hundreds of pressure points help stimulate circulation, relieving tension and loosening muscles.
—Deanna Pai, Vogue, 29 Jan. 2026
Aviles recommends loosening the soil by hand or raking it with a garden claw to aerate it.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 29 Jan. 2026
Other changes to the policy include loosening a ban on donations of taxpayer money to nonprofits; an amendment passed by Council Member Krista Laine allows transfers to organizations of less than $50.
—Alex Driggars, Austin American Statesman, 23 Jan. 2026
But loosening the protections of the linear no-threshold (LNT) model is not supported by current research.
—Katy Huff, Scientific American, 23 Jan. 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
There's also some evidence that cost discipline is loosening a bit.
—Michael Khouw, CNBC, 17 Feb. 2026
Air quality regulations and programs are loosening their restrictions.
—John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 13 Feb. 2026
However, loosening those connections would be extremely difficult and come with enormous costs, analysts told CNN.
—Anna Cooban, CNN Money, 5 Feb. 2026
Push-Ups to Downward-Facing Dog This strength-stretch combo move activates the chest, core, and arms while loosening the hamstrings and calves.
—Jenny McCoy, Outside, 30 Jan. 2026
Its hundreds of pressure points help stimulate circulation, relieving tension and loosening muscles.
—Deanna Pai, Vogue, 29 Jan. 2026
Aviles recommends loosening the soil by hand or raking it with a garden claw to aerate it.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 29 Jan. 2026
Other changes to the policy include loosening a ban on donations of taxpayer money to nonprofits; an amendment passed by Council Member Krista Laine allows transfers to organizations of less than $50.
—Alex Driggars, Austin American Statesman, 23 Jan. 2026
But loosening the protections of the linear no-threshold (LNT) model is not supported by current research.
—Katy Huff, Scientific American, 23 Jan. 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
-
The food is also elevated a bit from the typical Mexican fare, making Perro Salado a great place for a date night, relaxing group dinner or anything in between.—
Will Richmond,
The Providence Journal,
14 Feb. 2026
-
What does relaxing look like for an Olympic speedskater?—
Sean Nevin,
NBC news,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Aljorna was able to slip out of his jacket, freeing himself from the agent’s grasp, and ran to his cousin, Goetz said.—
Emma Tucker,
CNN Money,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The lights in the hallways are on, freeing the staff from the need to shuffle around with flashlights.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
12 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Scheffler trailed by two strokes before unleashing a 6-iron on his 18th-hole approach, leaving just 2 feet, 7 inches for an eagle putt that was slightly complicated by wind gusts flapping his navy pants.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Trapped on the road with no way out, Hassan must make an impossible choice—escape, or risk unleashing devastating consequences.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Ultimately, easing the ageing‑asset backlog will require activity across both ends of the market.—
Sunaina Sinha Haldea,
Fortune,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Inflation cooled more than expected in January, capping a week of promising economic data, easing pressure on the White House, which has faced political criticism about the economy.—
Andrew Ackerman,
Washington Post,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The company is also releasing matching green and red versions of its $129 Pixel Buds 2a earbuds.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
When police have acted on leads — searching homes and questioning individuals before releasing them —livestreamers and some media outlets have been quick to share the information.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That brings a whole new dimension to unlocking the secret of gloves found 2 miles from Guthrie’s home, said by investigators to be similar to those worn by a suspect in a disturbing video caught on a camera at Guthrie’s front door.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
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He is compared to early-career Christian Yelich, who hit the ball very hard but too often on the ground before later unlocking MVP-level power by elevating more.—
Derek VanRiper,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Several have reported their medals detaching from their ribbons and, in one case, even breaking in half.—
Suzanne Nuyen,
NPR,
13 Feb. 2026
-
This causes the uterine lining to stop thickening and to break down, detaching the embryo.—
Arthur Jones II,
ABC News,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Both were premised on the idea of frictionless ease, liberating their users from outmoded toils.—
Jake Lundberg,
The Atlantic,
19 Feb. 2026
-
For the determined, liberating people’s cars from the ice can mean a quick source of income.—
Clio Chang,
Curbed,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Loosening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loosening. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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