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 Nickelback’s biggest songs are the mellowest.—
Rachel DeSantis,
PEOPLE,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Just ask and they’ll be brought to your table by white-gloved waiters for your reading pleasure over coffee, a digestif, and mellow jazz.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The weekend celebration started on Friday with a roller skating party on the smooth arena floor followed by a full schedule on Saturday of performances by local artists, tours and refreshments.—
Doug Duran,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
With the ability to charge a compatible phone wirelessly at 25W using the new Qi2 charging standard, the MagSafe-compatible Icemag 3 has a full-surface magnetic lock and provides smoother and steadier power flow.—
Mark Sparrow,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The collected data is sent to an app via Bluetooth, where it can be used to provide information on hormonal cycles and anxiety levels.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
9 Jan. 2026
-
After more than six months of study, Tianwen-2 will leave the asteroid and drop the collected sample down to Earth before heading off to investigate 311P/PanSTARRS, a complicated celestial object that’s part asteroid and part comet.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
31 Dec. 2025
Adjective
-
Crandon Park Beach Key Biscayne, Florida A two-mile stretch of soft white sand in Key Biscayne, family-friendly Crandon Park Beach consistently earns praise for its beauty and calm waters thanks to an offshore sandbar.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Simple, Purposeful Spaces Warm minimalism creates calm, simple spaces by keeping a room clean and clutter-free.—
Erica Puisis,
The Spruce,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Petite and low-slung, the armless silhouette and oversized pillow cushions feel nonchalant but not sloppy, and can easily bring some dynamic energy to more formal living room seating layouts.—
Audrey Lee,
Architectural Digest,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Her nonchalant, soft-glam is so perfectly mesmerizing, my TikTok and social media feeds are flooded with tutorials trying to re-create her signature style.—
Kaitlin Clapinski,
InStyle,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
When military assets are deployed into American communities under the guise of immigration enforcement, there is a steady erosion of the boundaries that constrain permissible state violence.—
Binaifer Nowrojee,
Time,
30 Jan. 2026
-
While there have been signs of overall slower consumer spending in the past year, American Express has continued to post steady sales growth, supported by strong demand for travel, dining and everyday purchases among its highest-spending customers, analysts say.—
Mike Winters,
CNBC,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Carden-Lovell recommends splurging on time off, taking advantage of shoulder season's lower prices, thinner crowds and cooler weather (outside spring break periods, of course).—
Natalie B. Compton The Washington Post,
Arkansas Online,
1 Feb. 2026
-
The air 15 to 20 degrees cooler than usual, the 60s for Saturday morning qualifying and Saturday afternoon’s race.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
At the same time, the slate keeps things light with stand-up from Mo Gilligan and Sommore, plus easygoing romances and comedies like the Terry McMillan adaptations and Tyler Perry’s latest film Joe’s College Road Trip.—
Okla Jones,
Essence,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The change represents a significant shift for Southwest’s brand, which has been known as a no-frills, easygoing option compared to competing airlines.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Loosey-goosey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loosey-goosey. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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