LOOSENS Synonyms: 92 Similar and Opposite Words

loosens

verb

present tense third-person singular of loosen

as in relaxes

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

as in frees

to set free (as from slavery or confinement) the dog ran after the squirrel after he was loosened from the post

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as in unleashes

to set free (from a state of being held in check) once he got to know us better, his inhibitions loosened a bit

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of loosens When force is applied in the driving direction, torque tightens or loosens a fastener. —

Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 13 Feb. 2026 Being a fan of a cultural artifact means being a passionate reader (in a broader sense that also includes viewer, listener, audience, co-creator, and that also loosens and points out the porous border between work, creator, recipient). —

Literary Hub, 13 Feb. 2026 The steam created from the heated lemon water loosens the debris, and the lemon creates a clean, fresh scent throughout. —

Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 7 Feb. 2026 The Bucks won’t be, either, and that loosens trade restrictions on deals involving those two teams. —

Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2026 The comparison game, the one that turns playgrounds and playdates into mental minefields, loosens its grip. —

Danielle Marie Holland, Parents, 27 Jan. 2026 The spirit is the backbone, bitters add spice and depth and complexity, ice chills it down and loosens it all up and a touch of sugar files the sharp edges off. —

Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 24 Jan. 2026 Instead of stimulating the brain, alcohol slows it down and loosens inhibitions. —

Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 10 Jan. 2026 If TNF‑α loosens the blood-brain barrier, inflammatory molecules from the blood – as well as disease-causing pathogens – may have increased access to the reward circuitry of the brain, potentially worsening neuronal damage and dysfunction over time. —

Habibeh Khoshbouei, The Conversation, 9 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for loosens

Verb

House Bill 267 relaxes funding restrictions to the State Housing Initiatives Program, known as SHIP, which provides local governments with money to promote housing affordability for residents.

— Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 13 Feb. 2026
Néfissa relaxes with all generations of her sprawling family.

— Murtada Elfadl, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026