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
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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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of loosen
There’s also an intention to loosen regulations and strengthen the trade bloc with common debt and a single capital market.
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David Michels, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
The man eventually loosened the binding on one of the woman’s hands and left.
—Kevin Grasha, The Enquirer, 11 Dec. 2024
Related Stories Artificial intelligence If President-elect Trump loosens AI regulations, artificial intelligence could push advancements faster than expected in streamlining the shipping industry and in optimizing supply chains, Haverfield said.
—Vicki M. Young, Sourcing Journal, 3 Dec. 2024
Today, Chinese automakers have become a formidable force, coming a long way to loosen the stranglehold that Western and Japanese automakers once had on the automotive sector.
—Sarwant Singh, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for loosen 
David Michels, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
The man eventually loosened the binding on one of the woman’s hands and left.
—Kevin Grasha, The Enquirer, 11 Dec. 2024
Related Stories Artificial intelligence If President-elect Trump loosens AI regulations, artificial intelligence could push advancements faster than expected in streamlining the shipping industry and in optimizing supply chains, Haverfield said.
—Vicki M. Young, Sourcing Journal, 3 Dec. 2024
Today, Chinese automakers have become a formidable force, coming a long way to loosen the stranglehold that Western and Japanese automakers once had on the automotive sector.
—Sarwant Singh, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for loosen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loosen
Verb
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That might come as a surprise to some travelers, especially when the thought of relaxing can feel laughable after reckoning with airport’s infamous curbside gridlock.Chris Dong, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024
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Before the shooting, Cervantes said the couple were on the bed relaxing, preparing to go out for the evening, when the shooting happened.Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The track is from Eilish's latest album, Hit Me Hard and Soft, which was released in May.Ingrid Vasquez, People.com, 12 Dec. 2024
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Book Retreats released its Holiday Relaxation Report, which detailed the best destinations around the world where travelers can find peace and quiet, including uncovering the top destinations for solitude.Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
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It’s been years in the making for Dre and Snoop to reconnect and unleash a joint project.Michael Saponara, Billboard, 17 Dec. 2024
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The Irish punk-poets unleashed an emotional track that’s become a battle cry for the downtrodden and forgotten, and which could only be written by these working-class Dublin natives.Charles Moss, SPIN, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
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That could cause trouble for Trump, who faces a potential Catch-22 that will make easing the housing burden difficult to solve.Jeff Cox, CNBC, 11 Dec. 2024
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This external validation can ease the discomfort of inconsistency in relationships and provide further confidence to navigate the disagreement. 3.Mark Travers, Forbes, 11 Dec. 2024
Verb
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While the technology is impressive, the real value lies in how these platforms free up HR professionals to focus on what matters most – the human aspect of their role.Bernard Marr, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
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The original 28 Days Later takes place in a world where animal rights activists have freed a group of infected chimpanzees to horrifying results.Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
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On Monday, the ISW's map noted gains by Kyiv in Ukraine's Donetsk region as well as claims by Russian sources that Ukrainian forces had liberated Novyi Komar.Joseph Epstein, Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2024
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His apparent ouster would bring to a close nearly 25 years of his tight-grip rule, liberate Syria from a family dynasty that has brutally controlled Syria for double that time and inject fresh turmoil into a Middle East region already spilling over with warfare and political uncertainty.Kim Hjelmgaard, USA TODAY, 8 Dec. 2024
Verb
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People will need to do less and less in the future to loose a torrent of data about themselves and their ongoing activities onto the Web.John Rennie, IEEE Spectrum, 31 May 2011
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Individuals will loose trust in their company leadership decision-making abilities if organizational changes negatively impact the majority of the workforce.Kate Wieczorek, Forbes, 30 Sep. 2024
Verb
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The San Luis Obispo County Urban Search and Rescue team rescued the two individuals in collaboration with the California Highway Patrol and the San Luis Obispo County Fire Department.Fernando Cervantes Jr., USA TODAY, 17 Dec. 2024
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She was rescued and taken to a nearby hospital with serious injuries.Skylar Heisey, The Arizona Republic, 16 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Loosen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loosen. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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