as in to loosen
to set free (from a state of being held in check)
a relaxing bath unloosened all the mental and physical tension that had been building throughout the day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unloosen
Verb
-
This will loosen any bits on the bottom of the oven.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
14 Jan. 2026 -
South Korea could use this as an opportunity to press China to loosen its informal restrictions on Korean entertainment from 2016 or to get China firmly on board with North Korean denuclearization.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The strike marks the first time in more than a year that Moscow has unleashed the Oreshnik, which can contain multiple warheads and carry either conventional or nuclear payloads.—
Kosta Gak,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The first batch of season 4 episodes were released on Peacock Thursday night, and the biggest headline was a new twist unleashed by host Alan Cumming just minutes into the game.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But in 2010, Bernanke proposed something much more far-reaching: an initiative to disburse interest-free loans to major banks to unloose new tranches of cash throughout the economy.—
Chris Lehmann,
The New Republic,
19 Jan. 2022
-
In a long, cozy sequence in the season’s first episode, Sam cooks breakfast for her sleeping household, sizzling sausage and frying eggs in a private ritual that’s best appreciated before her daughters rise and unloose chaos.—
Alexandra Schwartz,
The New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2020
Verb
-
Yet again, Netflix has released a Harlan Coben adaptation on New Year’s Day—and again it’s written by Danny Brocklehurst (Fool Me Once).—
Emily Temple,
Literary Hub,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The sateen weave strikes the perfect balance for fall—breathable enough to release pesky heat and moisture, yet cozy and smooth enough to snuggle into on cooler nights.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 Jan. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Unloosen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unloosen. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
