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
This isn’t to say McDermott has become loosey-goosey.
—
Dan Pompei, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
As Prynoski runs a quick session, the loosey-goosey fantasy RPG-meets-drinking game — whose kookily illustrated cards and dice all glow under blacklights — feels oddly like a natural next step for Titmouse.
—James Grebey, Rolling Stone, 28 Nov. 2025
If things are left too loosey-goosey and vague, that can result in mixed expectations within your organization.
—Kathleen Walch, Fortune, 11 Nov. 2025
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
Dan Pompei, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
As Prynoski runs a quick session, the loosey-goosey fantasy RPG-meets-drinking game — whose kookily illustrated cards and dice all glow under blacklights — feels oddly like a natural next step for Titmouse.
—James Grebey, Rolling Stone, 28 Nov. 2025
If things are left too loosey-goosey and vague, that can result in mixed expectations within your organization.
—Kathleen Walch, Fortune, 11 Nov. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loosey-goosey
Adjective
-
For water sports, the shallower water on each barrier island’s east side is calmer than the Atlantic surf, so head there for mellow activities like kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding.—
Kara Williams,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The mellow tones of Lana del Rey and comparable artists filled the air and made a welcome change to traditional spa sounds.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Still, the recovery has not been entirely smooth.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The carrots also add smooth texture and extra flavor to this comfort food favorite.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
21 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Start with a high-quality anchor piece, then layer in vintage accents that make the patio feel collected and personal.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The robot will vacuum oil from the water’s surface, return to its base station to discharge the collected oil, and then redeploy to the spill site.—
Ben Coxworth
March 10,
New Atlas,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Lead with calm confidence, but keep your claims grounded.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
26 Apr. 2026
-
His elite pass protection and calm feet mean he can be trusted immediately to keep the quarterback clean on passing downs, while also providing a high-effort presence on special teams.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This approach not only simplifies your daily routine but also enhances the haircut's nonchalant vibe, quintessential to French style.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Fagen’s nonchalant cameo, though, got the Steely Dan community in a tizzy.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Then last June, the Nuggets snatched Wallace back from Minnesota, hiring him as their new co-general manager alongside his friend Ben Tenzer — another longtime Connelly disciple who’d been a steady hand behind the scenes in Denver’s front office since 2013.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
25 Apr. 2026
-
That drives pocket-protector wearing water engineers a little crazy, because steady outcomes are what these men and women live for.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
24 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
On a cool Friday night at Audi Field, the Washington Spirit didn’t just win.—
Asli Pelit,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Yes, Barcelona comes across normally as a cool place, a vanguard city which everybody wants to visit.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This easygoing collection of tropical-punch colors combines pale caladiums with rosy centers, purple-and-green Magilla perilla, the dark purple leaves of calathea 'Dottie', and a few ferns (including a feathery ghost fern).—
Midwest Living,
Midwest Living,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Moms who are receptive to those guardrails may be easygoing about any additional boundaries.—
Ashley Oerman,
SELF,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Loosey-goosey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loosey-goosey. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
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