1
as in to relax
to make less taut
the lead climber loosened the climbing rope so that the other climber could have more room to maneuver
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to release
to set free (as from slavery or confinement)
the dog ran after the squirrel after he was loosened from the post
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to unleash
to set free (from a state of being held in check)
once he got to know us better, his inhibitions loosened a bit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of loosen
With a fitted bodice, Bieber’s dress loosened at the skirt, which began below the hips and flowed.
—
Julia Teti, Footwear News, 9 Apr. 2025
If plants are pot-bound, loosen the roots around the bottom and sides of the root ball and spread them out in the bottom of the planting hole.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2025
Systems built on power, fear, and control are reacting because their grip is beginning to loosen.
—Ingmar Rentzhog, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025
Grey's Anatomy's vice-like grip on the medical drama genre is loosening with The Pitt, a thrilling and impeccably researched new Max series set in a Pittsburgh emergency room.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for loosen
Julia Teti, Footwear News, 9 Apr. 2025
If plants are pot-bound, loosen the roots around the bottom and sides of the root ball and spread them out in the bottom of the planting hole.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 9 Apr. 2025
Systems built on power, fear, and control are reacting because their grip is beginning to loosen.
—Ingmar Rentzhog, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025
Grey's Anatomy's vice-like grip on the medical drama genre is loosening with The Pitt, a thrilling and impeccably researched new Max series set in a Pittsburgh emergency room.
—Randall Colburn, EW.com, 11 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for loosen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loosen
Verb
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The Private Office is also a comfortable space to relax, spread out and inspire creativity.—
Scotty Reiss,
Forbes.com,
28 Apr. 2025
-
Progressive Muscle Relaxation Progressive muscle relaxation involves slowly tensing and then relaxing different muscle groups in the body, one at a time.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Health,
27 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
No other information about the incident was released.—
David Matthews,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2025
-
August reservations will be released on July 1 and so on.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The games at the Coliseum should be high-octane with the Unicorns set to unleash a squad brimming with youthful talent.—
Tristan Lavalette,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
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As a result, players are rewarded for playing well by earning more AP and being able to unleash flashier special attacks.—
George Yang,
Rolling Stone,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The overall unemployment rate for the working-age population in cities eased slightly to 5.2% in March from a two-year high of 5.4% in February.—
Evelyn Cheng,Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
28 Apr. 2025
-
This shift acknowledges cannabis’s medical potential and eases some research restrictions.—
Matt Rozo,
Mercury News,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Four months into his second term, the sprint is on: SAB 121 is gone, freeing banks from punitive capital rules on digital‑asset custody; April’s bill scrapped the nightmare cost‑basis paperwork for DeFi; and the DOJ has shuttered its crypto task force, vowing to chase scammers, not software.—
Crypto Confidential,
Forbes.com,
21 Apr. 2025
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In the month following Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack and Hamas's seizing of hundreds of Israeli hostages, Francis had prayed they would soon be freed and called for dialogue.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Another endangered fish, northern tidewater gobies, were rescued from the same watershed shortly before the steelhead were liberated.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2025
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Just as my ancient and modern ancestors found freedom from oppression, so can each of us be liberated from today’s challenges by crafting a future built on deeds of lovingkindness.—
Maria Zimina,
New York Daily News,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Unsurprisingly, markets and investors are loosing their patience with BP.—
Gaurav Sharma,
Forbes.com,
20 Apr. 2025
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In the fall of 1982, Love Child receives its title and is loosed into theaters, only to vanish a few weeks later.—
Matthew Specktor,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Sep. 2019
Verb
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To protect a batch of sea turtle eggs from possible poachers, the group rescued them and hatched them in a lab before releasing 100 baby sea turtles into the ocean.—
Terry Baddoo,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
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Then: Joel rescued her, just in the nick of time, and offered her a horse ride with him and Dina — but to where?—
Tom Gliatto,
People.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Loosen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loosen. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
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