1
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
2
as in frees
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 unleashes
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of loosens
The bill also loosens rules around building increasingly popular accessory dwelling units (ADUs) — such as granny flats, in-law suites or backyard cottages — alongside existing structures.
—
Bob Woods, CNBC, 29 Mar. 2026
Other people’s reactions bleed into your own experience; the boundary between self and crowd loosens.
—Yook Jihun, Popular Science, 26 Mar. 2026
House Bill 1095 is a good piece of legislation tarred by a bad amendment that loosens requirements for public notices.
—The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 28 Feb. 2026
Raking also loosens the soil which will provide better seed-to-soil contact.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
Affordable housing bill loosens income limits This year’s draft requires average rents to be affordable to residents earning the 60% area median income.
—Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 26 Feb. 2026
The Department of the Interior finalized its overhaul of the nation’s bedrock environmental law on Monday, which loosens oversight on logging, mining, oil and gas development, and other industrial projects.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 25 Feb. 2026
Time, especially in the second half of life, loosens your grip and offers perspective.
—Dimity McDowell, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
As winter slowly loosens its grip, the animal rehabilitators hope rising temperatures will ease the strain on wildlife.
—John Dias, CBS News, 21 Feb. 2026
Bob Woods, CNBC, 29 Mar. 2026
Other people’s reactions bleed into your own experience; the boundary between self and crowd loosens.
—Yook Jihun, Popular Science, 26 Mar. 2026
House Bill 1095 is a good piece of legislation tarred by a bad amendment that loosens requirements for public notices.
—The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 28 Feb. 2026
Raking also loosens the soil which will provide better seed-to-soil contact.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
Affordable housing bill loosens income limits This year’s draft requires average rents to be affordable to residents earning the 60% area median income.
—Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 26 Feb. 2026
The Department of the Interior finalized its overhaul of the nation’s bedrock environmental law on Monday, which loosens oversight on logging, mining, oil and gas development, and other industrial projects.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 25 Feb. 2026
Time, especially in the second half of life, loosens your grip and offers perspective.
—Dimity McDowell, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
As winter slowly loosens its grip, the animal rehabilitators hope rising temperatures will ease the strain on wildlife.
—John Dias, CBS News, 21 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loosens
Verb
-
Exhaling occurs when the diaphragm relaxes and the chest recoils.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Both are normal responses as the body relaxes.—
Sara Moniuszko,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The pair enrolled in online classes at Dakota County Technical College through the state’s Post-Secondary Enrollment Options program, which frees up their schedules during the typical school day.—
Elliot Mann,
Twin Cities,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Passing them along not only frees up space but also helps someone who is setting up a new home get started with the essentials.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In the process, Nicole unintentionally unleashes a terrifyingly malign spirit who lures victims to their deaths with a haunting whistle.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
1 Apr. 2026
-
For example, when Les unleashes the couple's cat Magoo on Lindy, Banks expected a certain level of playfulness.—
Sarah Rodman,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The report eases one of the Fed’s trickiest dilemmas from the past year, when weak job growth put pressure on officials to cut rates even as inflation refused to come down.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
3 Apr. 2026
-
When fear eases, the rush into safe havens tends to ease with it.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Where Beyoncé added poetic interludes between songs, in Songs from the Hole, the audience learns about Jacobs' story and how his music spiritually liberates him while simultaneously being among the reasons officials cited for not granting him parole.—
Kara Frame,
NPR,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Nuclear fusion, like in the Sun, liberates 630 trillion joules for each kilogram of hydrogen fuel.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Google releases Gemma 4 open weight model.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Netflix releases the film in IMAX theaters on November 26 and it will be globally released on Netflix Christmas Day.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At the top sits the Reserve card, at $650 a year, which unlocks access to Delta Sky Clubs and Centurion Lounges, an annual companion certificate that includes first class and international routes, and a boost toward Medallion elite status.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
9 Apr. 2026
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Harden talks about the chemistry of human behavior, how society has shaped its views of different communities, the relationship between hereditability and perceived responsibility, and how those opinions shift as science unlocks more mysteries of the human genome.—
Fiction Non Fiction,
Literary Hub,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Loosens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loosens. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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