as in loose
not tightly fastened, tied, or stretched
the loosened nuts finally dropped off of the screws
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in relaxed
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in freed
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 unleashed
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of loosened
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
22 June 2026
For now, though, Detroit’s automakers are leaning into the lucre that comes from selling millions of fossil-fuel vehicles in a rare moment of loosened regulation.
—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
24 Feb. 2026
Next, carefully remove the bowl from the microwave and use a microfiber cloth to wipe away all the loosened grime.
—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Aug. 2025
The board’s Budget and Legislative Analyst said the loosened contracting rules could apply to more than $1 billion in government spending.
—
J.d. Morris,
San Francisco Chronicle,
29 Jan. 2025
Evy Lewis,
Chicago Tribune,
26 June 2026
Anderson’s collection was about formality losing its grip — tuxedos loosened, denim ripped, sequins flashing, disco-ball boots stepping through a house built on old-world taste.
—
ABC News,
24 June 2026
When Defir briefly loosened his grip, the woman escaped, per prosecutors.
—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
22 June 2026
In 2020, the rules were further loosened so that players can change in some contexts after that age.
—
Laurent Dubois,
The Conversation,
10 June 2026
The ladies then loosened the mood and began discussing pop culture topics, like Pink's Tony Awards opening number and Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's reported wedding plans at Madison Square Garden.
—
Leigh Blickley,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 June 2026
These cities loosened their zoning laws and other restrictions in recent years to build housing, helping bring down rents.
—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
Travel costs are climbing, remote work has loosened the rules on where and how long people can roam, and a growing share of travelers are deciding that a stranger’s spare bedroom — or entire home — beats another $400-a-night hotel.
—
Hanna Wickes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
The mother-of-pearl buttons have an expensive, classy look and haven’t loosened with wear.
—
Irene Richardson,
InStyle,
1 June 2026
Adjective
Hence shirt jackets and safari jackets in linen and leather came to the fore, as did denim Bermudas, linen polos and lots of lifestyle knits amid its more formal, full-canvas tailoring — styled with a loosened tie.
—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
22 June 2026
For now, though, Detroit’s automakers are leaning into the lucre that comes from selling millions of fossil-fuel vehicles in a rare moment of loosened regulation.
—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
24 Feb. 2026
Next, carefully remove the bowl from the microwave and use a microfiber cloth to wipe away all the loosened grime.
—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Aug. 2025
The board’s Budget and Legislative Analyst said the loosened contracting rules could apply to more than $1 billion in government spending.
—
J.d. Morris,
San Francisco Chronicle,
29 Jan. 2025
Verb
Citgo is asking for carbon monoxide emissions standards to be loosened for certain larger boilers and heaters at the Lemont refinery during periods of startup and shutdown, Citgo lawyer Melissa Brown said in an opening statement.
—
Evy Lewis,
Chicago Tribune,
26 June 2026
Anderson’s collection was about formality losing its grip — tuxedos loosened, denim ripped, sequins flashing, disco-ball boots stepping through a house built on old-world taste.
—
ABC News,
24 June 2026
When Defir briefly loosened his grip, the woman escaped, per prosecutors.
—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
22 June 2026
In 2020, the rules were further loosened so that players can change in some contexts after that age.
—
Laurent Dubois,
The Conversation,
10 June 2026
The ladies then loosened the mood and began discussing pop culture topics, like Pink's Tony Awards opening number and Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's reported wedding plans at Madison Square Garden.
—
Leigh Blickley,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 June 2026
These cities loosened their zoning laws and other restrictions in recent years to build housing, helping bring down rents.
—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
Travel costs are climbing, remote work has loosened the rules on where and how long people can roam, and a growing share of travelers are deciding that a stranger’s spare bedroom — or entire home — beats another $400-a-night hotel.
—
Hanna Wickes,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
The mother-of-pearl buttons have an expensive, classy look and haven’t loosened with wear.
—
Irene Richardson,
InStyle,
1 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loosened
Adjective
-
Diving for loose balls, boxing out, guarding whoever Steve Kerr told him to, and occasionally making a basket.
-
Tempers flared late in the fourth quarter when Kings center Dylan Cardwell and Nets guard Egor Demin wrestled for a loose ball.
Verb
-
In the years after the schedule was relaxed, three more instances were discovered before the crash.
-
Tailoring became lighter, proportions relaxed and layering more instinctive, creating wardrobes that feel versatile rather than prescriptive.
Verb
-
That freed up the full-backs to stay wide and cope with Japan’s switches.
-
The five other cases freed up by the bankruptcy judge have yet to proceed to trial.
Verb
-
The lone goal came from midfielder Stephen Eustáquio, who unleashed a strike from outside the box in the 92nd minute.
-
The Russian military unleashed a massive 11-hour barrage on the Ukrainian capital overnight into Thursday morning that killed at least 30 people.
Adjective
-
Having replaced McGinn, Sancho was still settling into the game’s pace, but was markedly slack in possession.
-
The worst transition is from a frictionless sprint into slack time or shallow administrative work.
Verb
-
The worst of the drought eventually eased by the end of the 1930s as rainfall patterns shifted and conservation practices expanded, but its legacy remains a benchmark for prolonged, multi-year drought and environmental collapse across the Plains.
-
In the bond market, Treasury yields eased with oil prices.
Verb
-
The Los Angeles Fire Department’s hazardous material team also tested for ammonia, which is used in refrigeration, and hydrogen fluoride, a toxic chemical that could be released by burning lithium-ion batteries and solar panels.
-
In a new report released Wednesday, the university highlighted higher than average earnings, accelerated social mobility and declining student debt for its graduates.
Adjective
-
The undone to-do list has become a social occasion.
-
Here's a looser, more undone example.
Cite this Entry
“Loosened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loosened. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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