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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All very mellow and not at all in line with RadarOnline’s reporting.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
26 Oct. 2025
-
Economists expect the September gain to be more mellow; however, certain categories likely will highlight pain points.—
Alicia Wallace,
CNN Money,
23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Most of the frog’s body is smooth, while the sides, throat, chest and stomach have some small bumps, according to the study.—
Irene Wright,
Miami Herald,
24 Oct. 2025
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That means official inflation readings may be smoother than the real-world volatility consumers experience, particularly for categories where local price swings or shortages matter most, such as in beef prices.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The collected premium cushions downside risk and enhances the effective yield on capital at risk.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Different birds, different behaviors The collected recordings were analyzed by BirdNET, an AI system that can identify bird species based on their calls.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
From clever packing solutions and cozy in-flight accessories, to tiny upgrades that make a huge difference midair, all of these travel hacks are pilot-approved for keeping your journey calm, clean, and surprisingly comfortable from takeoff to touchdown.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Travel + Leisure,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Pasolini works in an atmosphere of calm.—
David Wingrave,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Meanwhile, a debonair and nonchalant judge, Roland Brack (Nicholas Pinnock), who has arranged George’s loan for the expensive property, is also dallying with Hedda and plots to use his influence—his power, rather—to tighten their extramarital bond.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
17 Oct. 2025
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Accompanied by a nonchalant guitar performance, dancer and choreographer Dong Jilan, donning a brown velvet dress and having the same long, wavy hair as Sanmao, woke up from a miniature dune and roamed around the set in a highly spiritual and ceremonial fashion.—
Denni Hu,
Footwear News,
17 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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After which radiolarians sink, producing a steady snowfall of delicate glasswork onto the ocean floor.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Oct. 2025
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With short-term interest rates declining, returns on Berkshire’s massive cash and Treasury portfolio are likely to come under pressure, limiting a source of steady income that has bolstered recent results.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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And someone who is a great listener, respectful, caring, chilled out, someone who supports my dreams – and is cool with my chaos!—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
26 Oct. 2025
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Traditionally, potatoes sprout in cool weather in late winter or spring.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
26 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Beaton used his patient, pliable and easygoing sisters, Nancy and Barbara as his early muses.—
Hikmat Mohammed,
Footwear News,
20 Oct. 2025
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Golden retrievers have long been among America's most-popular dog breeds, known for their friendly, easygoing nature, and getting along well with small kids and other canines.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Loosey-goosey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loosey-goosey. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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