Synonyms of loosens (up)

loosens (up) 1 of 2

verb (1)

present tense third-person singular of loosen (up)

as in facilitates

to free from obstruction or difficulty

hoped that adding a second lane would loosen up traffic on that street

Synonyms & Similar Words

• facilitates
• accelerates
• improves
• eases
• promotes
• simplifies
• paves the way (for)
• smooths
• greases
• speeds
• straightens (out)
• unclogs
• aids
• helps
• assists
• hastens
• quickens
• hurries
• expedites
• advances
• furthers
• forwards
• rushes
• abets
• streamlines
• disentangles
• untangles

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• complicates
• hinders
• impedes
• retards
• aggravates
• worsens
• perplexes
• sophisticates

loosens up

2 of 2

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of loosen up

as in relaxes

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

• relaxes
• hangs loose
• mellows (out)
• winds down
• rests
• chills
• chills out
• unwinds
• decompresses
• kicks back
• de-stresses
• composes
• goofs (off)
• hangs (around or out)
• unbends
• basks
• settles
• comforts
• hacks (around)
• lounges
• zones out
• calms
• alleviates
• relieves
• bums
• reposes
• lazes
• eases
• cools
• dawdles
• dillydallies
• idles
• footles
• loafs
• vegetates
• lolls
• drones
• quiets
• vegges out
• dallies

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• tenses (up)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of loosens (up)

Verb

The two eventually connect and learn from each other; Ray loosens up and Molly grows up. — Kara Nesvig, Parents, 29 Aug. 2026

The hot queso frito loaded with Oaxaca cheese, salsa negra, pico, cilantro, and tortillas is richer and exactly the kind of dish that loosens up a group after a second round of drinks. — Rafael Peña, Miami Herald, 13 July 2026

But mortgage rates could slowly come down once the tension in the Middle East loosens up. — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 31 Mar. 2026

Snug at the hips and thigh, the silhouette loosens up at the knee into a true straight leg. — Genevieve Cepeda, InStyle, 4 Mar. 2026

Parker’s series starts out with too much bellowing and yelling along with hazing and bullying but loosens up and broadens out to peer into the lives of other recruits who are wrestling with demons and sometimes each other. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025