as in facilitating
to free from obstruction or difficulty
hoped that adding a second lane would loosen up traffic on that street
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in relaxing
to get rid of nervous tension or anxiety
a high-pressure job that makes it hard for him to loosen up even on weekends
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of loosening (up)
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
7 June 2026
After the ceasefire, oil prices plunged and bond yields fell, loosening up some of the cost crunch for consumers and businesses alike.
—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
Dulude suggests loosening up the food particles on the microwave walls by placing a bowl of water inside with half a lemon and using a high setting to boil the water.
—
Lori Keong,
Architectural Digest,
2 Apr. 2026
Men, once largely confined to safe tuxedos, began loosening up.
—
Merle Ginsberg,
HollywoodReporter,
18 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
Part of that is loosening up streamers’ bids for lengthy contract terms on series, potentially in exchange for less money.
—
K.j. Yossman,
Variety,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
If the plant was root bound in its pot, consider pulling it out of the ground, loosening up the roots so water can penetrate, and replanting it.
—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
7 June 2026
After the ceasefire, oil prices plunged and bond yields fell, loosening up some of the cost crunch for consumers and businesses alike.
—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
Dulude suggests loosening up the food particles on the microwave walls by placing a bowl of water inside with half a lemon and using a high setting to boil the water.
—
Lori Keong,
Architectural Digest,
2 Apr. 2026
Men, once largely confined to safe tuxedos, began loosening up.
—
Merle Ginsberg,
HollywoodReporter,
18 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
Part of that is loosening up streamers’ bids for lengthy contract terms on series, potentially in exchange for less money.
—
K.j. Yossman,
Variety,
13 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loosening (up)
Verb
-
The Board is committed to ensuring that the revote is conducted fairly, transparently, and in full compliance with all applicable legal requirements, while facilitating a seamless Board transition prior to the start of the 2026–2027 school year in September.
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The firm helps athletes, teams and leagues grow—and eventually cash in on—their overseas fanbases, with organizing tours and activations, facilitating sponsorships, local social media accounts and region-specific content.
Verb
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Iguanas are everywhere, relaxing around and even inside the pools—a further stamp of approval from nature itself.
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But Wright was relaxing in a hammock when those words came to him; Thomson, in the stiff upholstery of the multiplex, is worse off.
Verb
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As military action between the United States and Iran appears to be winding down and negotiations continue, the remaining issues are frustrating commentators eager to spin this as another example of endless conflict.
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With Prime Day 2026 winding down, now is your last chance to upgrade your pet's sleep setup before the deals disappear.
Verb
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The beds are large and comfy, and the rooms have plenty of space for chilling out after a long day.
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Picturesque lake towns like Greenville and Naples are ideal destinations for water sports, boating adventures, or just chilling out on sandy shores.
Cite this Entry
“Loosening (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loosening%20%28up%29. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.
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