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
The boundary of entertainment is a lot more loosey-goosey.
—Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Jan. 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
The boundary of entertainment is a lot more loosey-goosey.
—Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loosey-goosey
Adjective
-
Even the attractions here skew mellow, from the Navarre Beach Sea Turtle Conservation Center to the Navarre Beach Fishing Pier, the longest on the Gulf, where anglers cast lines as pelicans glide overhead.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The two-in-one device combines the power of an air purifier with an alarm clock that gently wakes you up with soothing sounds and mellow, adjustable lighting that mimics a sunrise.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Set in the heart of Charleston’s historic district just steps from King Street, the property feels grand in every sense of the word, from its smooth marble floors and winding staircase to its glittering chandeliers and sheer number of rooms (434, to be exact).—
Annie Daly,
Vogue,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The cake’s exterior is cloaked in smooth buttercream icing that clings to the fork, while the generous dusting of coconut flakes adds a gentle crackle with each mouthful.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
9 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
The collected data is then analyzed by an outside statistician before the report is issued.—
Theresa Clift,
Sacbee.com,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This remote Northland beach on the scenic Karikari Peninsula has clear, calm waters and soft white sand.—
Madeline Bilis,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
-
The Drawing Room extends into a calm outdoor courtyard fenced off by French doors and covered by a canopy of latticed vines.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
No doubt that playful warmth played a part in him being cast as Luffy, a hilariously nonchalant, yet utterly sincere would-be pirate.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
-
To be so nonchalant about that.—
Outside Online,
Outside Online,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Tien’s post-Australia results have been steady rather than spectacular.—
Douglas Robson,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Quiet support builds steady trust over time.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Breathable mesh accents keep your feet cool and dry all day, while the anti-microbial, anti-odor insole technology keeps everything extra fresh, even in sticky weather.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Mar. 2026
-
As the name implies, this cool dessert is a true delight.—
Jenna Sims,
Southern Living,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The energy was radiant, easygoing, alert and nothing short of magical.—
Jennelle Fong
Contributing Photographer,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Their earthy, easygoing designs channel their West Coast roots and unexpected color palettes are to be expected.—
Blake Bakkila,
Architectural Digest,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Loosey-goosey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loosey-goosey. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
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