1
as in loosened
not tightly fastened, tied, or stretched
secure your neckerchief with a loose knot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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2
as in unconsolidated
consisting of particles that do not stick together
the car wheels slipped on the loose gravel in the driveway
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3
as in flexible
not bound by rigid standards
we tend to be loose with the dress code when we aren't hosting clients at the office
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4
as in free
not bound, confined, or detained by force
there was a brief panic when the lion got loose from its cage at the zoo
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5
as in approximate
not precisely correct
a loose guess about the size of the crowd at the outdoor concert
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6
as in corrupt
having or showing lowered moral character or standards
the loose life that he led in the years before he settled down and found his path
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1
as in to fire
to cause (a projectile) to be driven forward with force
the archers loosed a great volley of arrows at the foot soldiers charging towards them
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2
as in to unleash
to find emotional release for
do not loose your pent-up frustrations on the next person who happens by
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3
as in to free
to set free (as from slavery or confinement)
the ranchers loosed the horses from their stables and into the paddock
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4
as in to loosen
to set free (from a state of being held in check)
the storm loosed its full fury when it hit the coastline at high tide
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of loose
Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 29 May 2025
The ankle length is easy to style with sneakers or heels, depending on the occasion, and gives a bit of structure to the otherwise loose jean.
—Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 28 May 2025
Megan Morrone, Axios, 24 Jan. 2025
When quantity is the most cherished currency, quality looses out.
—Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for loose
Adjective
Minnesota United goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair on Tuesday shared how one primary goal carries over to this Vancouver match: Don’t loose to a team twice in one season.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 29 May 2025
The ankle length is easy to style with sneakers or heels, depending on the occasion, and gives a bit of structure to the otherwise loose jean.
—Anna Moeslein, Glamour, 28 May 2025
Verb
Between the lines: OpenAI views Operator as the first baby steps toward loosing its AI on the world beyond ChatGPT's window.
—Megan Morrone, Axios, 24 Jan. 2025
When quantity is the most cherished currency, quality looses out.
—Cornelia C. Walther, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for loose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loose
Adjective
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Management identified a material weakness in internal controls related to verifying information from unconsolidated subsidiaries, which has been addressed with new procedures.—
Quartz Intelligence Newsroom,
Quartz,
1 Apr. 2025
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Related article Massive sinkhole threatens to swallow West Virginia police department Takashi Oguchi, a geographer from the University of Tokyo, said sinkholes are rare in Japan, where most roads are built on unconsolidated fluvial and marine sediments.—
Yumi Asada, Chris Lau and Minori Konishi,
CNN,
31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Despite its grandeur, over the centuries the palace proved to be a flexible structure, capable of accommodating additions, splits, partitions, changes of ownership and use.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
24 May 2025
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After all, supportive sneakers for walking through a city, flexible pants for long-haul flights, and versatile pieces that can be worn multiple times throughout a trip are essentials on any packing list.—
Rachel Trujillo,
Travel + Leisure,
24 May 2025
Adjective
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Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.—
Rachel Flynn,
People.com,
27 May 2025
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Sign up here to receive The Athletic’s free daily NFL newsletter in your inbox.—
Jacob Robinson,
New York Times,
27 May 2025
Adjective
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Vietnam exported apparel worth $44 billion in 2024, with an approximate 38 percent of this to the U.S, an increase of 12.33 percent over the previous year according to the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (VITAS).—
Mayu Saini,
Sourcing Journal,
22 May 2025
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Air Traffic Control Salary The approximate median annual wage for air traffic control specialists is $127,805, according to FAA data last updated in February.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 May 2025
Adjective
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In fact, Evans’ plotline as the corrupt Reverend Drew essentially runs parallel to Qualley’s and the lack of intersection is a curious oversight.—
Esther Zuckerman,
IndieWire,
23 May 2025
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According to the minister, high-ranking criminals are able to use their illicit earnings to corrupt officials, and some are able to continue to run their operations from inside prison..—
Jack Guy,
CNN Money,
19 May 2025
Verb
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Forensic evidence found at the scene indicated both brothers fired a weapon.—
Melissa Noel,
Essence,
28 May 2025
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Data displayed on SpaceX's live broadcast of the launch showed all 33 of the rocket's engines fired normally during its initial ascent from Texas, a reassuring sign for the reliability of the Super Heavy booster.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
28 May 2025
Verb
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Denver made a couple of substantial changes last year that unleashed the group as a whole.—
Parker Gabriel,
Denver Post,
28 May 2025
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In April, the IMF said global GDP would rise by 2.8% this year, down from a previous estimate of 3.2%, citing the uncertainty unleashed by Trump’s barrage of new tariffs on America’s trading partners.—
Anna Cooban,
CNN Money,
28 May 2025
Verb
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However, he was granted his request at the Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday, May 21, according to the BBC, and was released on a $6.7 million bail.—
Charna Flam,
People.com,
23 May 2025
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The game was officially released on May 22, 1980 in Japanese arcades before launching in the United States in October 1980, according to the Pac-Man website.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
23 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Loose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loose. Accessed 3 Jun. 2025.
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