Synonyms of loosening (up)

loosening (up) 1 of 2

verb (1)

present participle of loosen (up)

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

• facilitating
• paving the way (for)
• accelerating
• improving
• promoting
• easing
• simplifying
• smoothing
• greasing
• straightening (out)
• speeding
• assisting
• unclogging
• helping
• aiding
• expediting
• quickening
• furthering
• forwarding
• hurrying
• hastening
• rushing
• abetting
• advancing
• streamlining
• disentangling
• untangling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• complicating
• impeding
• hindering
• worsening
• retarding
• aggravating
• perplexing
• sophisticating

loosening up

2 of 2

verb (2)

present participle of loosen up

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

• relaxing
• hanging loose
• winding down
• mellowing (out)
• chilling out
• resting
• chilling
• unwinding
• decompressing
• hanging (around or out)
• kicking back
• composing
• hacking (around)
• goofing (off)
• vegging out
• zoning out
• basking
• de-stressing
• settling
• unbending
• lounging
• idling
• comforting
• cooling
• calming
• alleviating
• lazing
• bumming
• loafing
• reposing
• lolling
• relieving
• dawdling
• easing
• droning
• vegetating
• dillydallying
• quieting
• footling
• dallying

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• tensing (up)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of loosening (up)

Verb

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