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
-
There’s something irresistible about the way the mellow yet aromatic garlic infuses the butter, which melts into many crumbs and corners of the bread.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 May 2026
-
Their second meeting, in Lisbon on February 17, gave the lie to any suggestions that Mourinho, 63, is now a more mellow character.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Its steering and suspension produce a smoother ride quality than most average cars, trucks or SUVs can provide.—
Charles Singh,
USA Today,
11 May 2026
-
The $925 pale gold style came down to one smooth toe band, a thin ankle strap and a high pin heel, set against a strapless ankle-length dress worked in tight rows of silver and gold beading.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
11 May 2026
Adjective
-
This style appeals for its timeless charm and ability to feel collected and lived-in over time.—
Tessa Cooper,
The Spruce,
27 Apr. 2026
-
For one, Palestine by Joe Sacco, which found its way onto academic syllabi before gaining steam as a collected volume of graphic reporting.—
Kat Chen,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Your calm precision can keep the whole plan from wobbling.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2026
-
The outset of war finds her wary yet calm, and our knowledge of her composure under siege means that all following emotional displays shake us like miniature earthquakes.—
Sophie Monks Kaufman,
IndieWire,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
Snelling recalled telling Carpenter, who responded with a rather nonchalant question.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 May 2026
-
With all due respect to lace shorts, nonchalant track shorts are already the most coveted shorts of the moment.—
Tatiana Ojea,
Glamour,
3 May 2026
Adjective
-
The Moon in Taurus moves through your 6th House of Work and Wellness, asking for simple systems, steady routines, and practical follow-through.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
15 May 2026
-
But his steady 82-game audition in 2025-26 should make the organization confident enough to invest long-term in the left-shot center.—
Fluto Shinzawa,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
On a cool, drizzly day in Oakland, California, the film director Boots Riley often seemed less like a person than like a landmark—clockable from a distance.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
-
When the air conditioner is on, the driver’s side vent is cold, the rear is cool, but the front passenger side vent is blowing hot air.—
John Paul Senior Manager Public Affairs And Traffic Safety Aaa Northeast,
Hartford Courant,
16 May 2026
Adjective
-
Inspired by Olivia Wilde’s Jean Jacket After a trip to Mexico, Wilde’s airport outfit included an easygoing, oversized denim jacket.—
Nicol Natale,
PEOPLE,
10 May 2026
-
Salmon praised her easygoing and friendly nature.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Loosey-goosey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loosey-goosey. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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