as in mellow
chiefly US, informal
very loose or relaxed
The assistant manager had a loosey-goosey attitude about the store's return policy.
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Recent Examples of loosey-goosey
While their Afrocentric paeans to the motherland signal a commitment to Black uplift, their loosey-goosey grooves—plundered from records by Mandrill, Manu Dibango, and Kool & the Gang, and frequently scratched straight from turntables to tape—drink from a deep well of pure pleasure.
—
Pitchfork, 30 Sep. 2025
This worldwide experiment is loosey-goosey and carries weighty consequences.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Dogma is having a resurgence; Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back is similarly satirical in that loosey-goosey way Smith does so well.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 July 2025
The boundary of entertainment is a lot more loosey-goosey.
—Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Jan. 2025
Some jokes are just too-hot for TV — especially for CBS — even if they’re delivered in the loosey-goosey Golden Globes ballroom (and even when those Golden Globes are hosted by Nikki Glaser).
—Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 5 Jan. 2025
In such an instance, the loosey-goosey facets might allow for a great deal of confusion, finger-pointing, and slippery contrivances.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Pitchfork, 30 Sep. 2025
This worldwide experiment is loosey-goosey and carries weighty consequences.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Dogma is having a resurgence; Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back is similarly satirical in that loosey-goosey way Smith does so well.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 July 2025
The boundary of entertainment is a lot more loosey-goosey.
—Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Jan. 2025
Some jokes are just too-hot for TV — especially for CBS — even if they’re delivered in the loosey-goosey Golden Globes ballroom (and even when those Golden Globes are hosted by Nikki Glaser).
—Tony Maglio, IndieWire, 5 Jan. 2025
In such an instance, the loosey-goosey facets might allow for a great deal of confusion, finger-pointing, and slippery contrivances.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loosey-goosey
Adjective
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Cooks use honey to sweeten and moisten baked goods, mellow vinaigrettes, and balance sweet-and-sour sauces.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Word Up, made with Amara Planta chartreuse, offers a mellow, sideways take on the classic Last Word cocktail that, in the end, will leave you upright.—
Timothy DePeugh,
Charlotte Observer,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The TikTok-beloved Dyson Supersonic is designed to protect hair from extreme heat damage and frizz while leaving locks extra smooth and shiny.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The hatch handles well and has a smooth ride quality.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The collected premium cushions downside risk and enhances the effective yield on capital at risk.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
27 Oct. 2025
-
The collected data feeds into Cyvl’s Infrastructure Intelligence Platform, where proprietary AI algorithms assess conditions down to the smallest crack or sign of deficiency.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
With over 20 years of experience, Melissa has helped families transform chaos into calm using compassion, clarity, and proven behavioral strategies.—
Maria Williams,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Peak season is over, meaning the crowds are gone, the water feels calmer, the restaurants are more enjoyable, and the sunsets last just a little bit longer.—
Gabi De la Rosa,
Southern Living,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Jordan Marshall isn’t nonchalant about anything.—
Austin Meek,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
-
Backing the nonchalant trio were multiple percussionists on wind chimes, congas, shakers, and more, as well as backup singers, a bassist, and an additional guitarist.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
28 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Over the past half century, one of the fundamentals of American life has been the steady relocation of people—and of the country’s center of gravity—to the Sun Belt.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
10 Nov. 2025
-
The technology could one day provide steady, long-lasting power for faster and more flexible deep-space missions, including Mars travel.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Having no cool aunt of my own and no elder sisters, just teenage babysitters and camp counselors (each with their own unique but tenuous grasp on anatomy and reproductive science), the book felt warm, inviting, and—perhaps most important to my terrified, bleeding, self—safe.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
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The porous polymer coating that reflects up to 97 percent of sunlight and radiates heat into the air, keeping surfaces up to six degrees cooler than the surrounding air even under direct sun.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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They are known for their easygoing nature and generosity, and many tend to be sonically orientated and therefore musically inclined.—
Zoey Lyttle,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
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That easygoing attitude has also translated to his packing style.—
Rachel Chang,
Travel + Leisure,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Loosey-goosey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loosey-goosey. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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