1
as in loosened
not tightly fastened, tied, or stretched
secure your neckerchief with a loose knot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unconsolidated
consisting of particles that do not stick together
the car wheels slipped on the loose gravel in the driveway
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3
as in flexible
not bound by rigid standards
we tend to be loose with the dress code when we aren't hosting clients at the office
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4
as in free
not bound, confined, or detained by force
there was a brief panic when the lion got loose from its cage at the zoo
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5
as in approximate
not precisely correct
a loose guess about the size of the crowd at the outdoor concert
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6
as in corrupt
having or showing lowered moral character or standards
the loose life that he led in the years before he settled down and found his path
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to fire
to cause (a projectile) to be driven forward with force
the archers loosed a great volley of arrows at the foot soldiers charging towards them
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2
as in to unleash
to find emotional release for
do not loose your pent-up frustrations on the next person who happens by
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3
as in to free
to set free (as from slavery or confinement)
the ranchers loosed the horses from their stables and into the paddock
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4
as in to loosen
to set free (from a state of being held in check)
the storm loosed its full fury when it hit the coastline at high tide
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of loose
Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
Maybe just a loose rim falling.
—Mark Glende, Twin Cities, 27 Mar. 2026
Adam L. Rovner, The Conversation, 31 Oct. 2025
Safer, then, to keep loosing arrows at others’ positions rather than one’s own.
—Shai Tubali, Big Think, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for loose
Adjective
In overtime with time winding down, Holloway picked up a loose puck to the left of the Sharks’ net, skated toward the crease in front of a trailing Celebrini, and beat goalie Alex Nedeljkovic, roofing a backhand shot to send San Jose to its sixth straight loss (0-5-1).
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
Maybe just a loose rim falling.
—Mark Glende, Twin Cities, 27 Mar. 2026
Verb
Isaacs, a Jewish apprentice merchant from England, loosed the rope around his waist and jumped for his life, landing on the edge of the Zulu kingdom.
—Adam L. Rovner, The Conversation, 31 Oct. 2025
Safer, then, to keep loosing arrows at others’ positions rather than one’s own.
—Shai Tubali, Big Think, 30 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for loose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loose
Adjective
-
For now, though, Detroit’s automakers are leaning into the lucre that comes from selling millions of fossil-fuel vehicles in a rare moment of loosened regulation.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Next, carefully remove the bowl from the microwave and use a microfiber cloth to wipe away all the loosened grime.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
That loose, unconsolidated snow is more likely to slide, making avalanches potentially larger during big storms.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
14 Mar. 2026
-
At a targeted $50 billion primary raise and $1.5 trillion valuation, the deal would trail only Saudi Aramco in market cap and blow past Alibaba’s debut, yet it’s being pitched off fragmentary financials and largely unconsolidated disclosures, Tully writes.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
There was experimental literature in which the role of the author could be tweaked; in popular fiction, authorship could be a flexible concept.—
Joshua Rothman,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2026
-
According to experts, someone can be easygoing without being passive, or flexible while also staying engaged.—
Jenna Ryu,
SELF,
2 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Property-tax breaks, discounted prices on land, cheap leases, municipal bonds, free utilities—local governments will offer all these things and more to get teams to come or to stay.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Soccer journalist Andrew Wiebe will moderate a panel discussion exploring how data is transforming the sport at this free event.—
Dan Kelly
March 29,
Kansas City Star,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The company did not disclose the approximate opening date for these restaurants.—
Imelda García,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Police noted that the closure times are approximate and may change based on what’s going on Saturday.—
Pioneer Press,
Twin Cities,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Smuggling — sometimes by rope, sometimes with the help of corrupt jail guards — has long been a problem at the troubled federal jail, which has been plagued by violence, horrific conditions and severe staffing shortages for years.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
No corrupt leader enriching himself and the Epstein class buddies.—
Diego Parrado,
Vanity Fair,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Once North Carolina fired Hubert Davis after five seasons, Billy Donovan immediately rose to the top of the list of favorites to become the next head coach of the storied program.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
One of the reasons American troops would be vulnerable on Kharg Island is its close proximity to the Iranian mainland, from which missiles, drones and artillery could be fired.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This crisis is a direct result of chaos unleashed on the American people by Democrats in Congress.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
-
After a quick hit-ahead pass, Mullins got the ball back and unleashed a 35-foot 3-pointer for the win.—
Rohan Nadkarni,
NBC news,
30 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Loose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loose. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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