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

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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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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 The lighting becomes darker and the progression of the tasting menu loosens. — Noel Burgess, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026 The afternoon loosens into tapas at Tapeo and whatever the pastry chefs are improvising that week at Bubó. — Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026 The legislation loosens regulations to encourage housing construction and limits Wall Street investors from buying homes that could go to families instead. — Allison Pecorin, ABC News, 11 July 2026 Instead of relying on your own elbow grease (and a lot of bending), a steam cleaner loosens grime using heat and moisture. — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 11 July 2026 The heat softens and loosens debris in the carpet fibers so it can be vacuumed away. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 26 June 2026 One of the gentlest is WD-40, which loosens rust, lubricates parts, and helps protect the surface from further rusting. — Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 22 June 2026 But by the second verse, a racing beat arrives and never loosens its grip, especially as Rodrigo climbs the chorus. — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 12 June 2026 Today’s proclamation loosens restrictions on fishing in some of those same areas, specifically, Mau and Ho‘omalu Zones of the Papahānaumokuākea Marine National Monument, the Islands Unit of the Mariana Trench Marine National Monument, and the Rose Atoll Marine National Monument. — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 11 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for loosens

Verb

Offering a glass of champagne which relaxes them, a question about where guests are visiting from or a discussion about their day in Napa helps establish trust and puts diners at ease.

— Yuri Shima, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
Michael Jordan relaxes with a refreshing beverage while vacationing in Sardinia, Italy on July 13.

— Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026

Definition of relaxes

Verb

The organization also believes this frees up time for its catchers to work on other aspects of the game — such as hitting and receiving — given how much is already on their plates.

— Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 22 July 2026
This rethinking from first principles frees the committee to consider new approaches rather than minor tweaks.

— Steve Liesman, CNBC, 22 July 2026

Definition of frees

Verb

With the franchise’s trademark blend of extreme gore and dark humor, the Evil Dead backstory centers on the ancient Book of the Dead that unleashes supernatural evil forces and twists victims into sadistic, shape-shifting, near-invincible monsters.

— Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 21 July 2026
With a fury inside him, Garfield unleashes violence against them and commences the rebellion.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 16 July 2026

Definition of unleashes

Verb

Harvard’s research confirms that AI liberates managers from coordination and relay tasks, freeing them for judgment, contextual intelligence, and human connection that no system can replicate.

— Brett Hurt, Fortune, 23 June 2026
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

Definition of liberates

Verb

Rodríguez has rejected suggestions that authorities understated the disaster, saying the government releases only casualty figures that have been fully verified and would not speculate about the final toll.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026
Now, after reuniting in 2024, Body Type releases its third album, Tally, on July 24, marking the band’s first time working with a producer (Warpaint band member Stella Mozgawa) in an official capacity.

— Charles Moss, SPIN, 23 July 2026