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
Editors’ Picks Image The party only loosened birth restrictions in 2015 to allow families to have two children, an easing that created a sudden boom.
—
Alexandra Stevenson, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025
Parents tend to loosen their constraints on their oldest children, the team says, possibly on account of their perceptions of maturity.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 16 Jan. 2025
The Legislature loosened pumping regulations and continued to over-distribute water rights.
—Daniel Desrochers, Kansas City Star, 16 Jan. 2025
If local environmental regulations are loosened here in order to help quickly rebuild, does that concern you at all?
—CBS News, 12 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for loosen 
Alexandra Stevenson, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025
Parents tend to loosen their constraints on their oldest children, the team says, possibly on account of their perceptions of maturity.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 16 Jan. 2025
The Legislature loosened pumping regulations and continued to over-distribute water rights.
—Daniel Desrochers, Kansas City Star, 16 Jan. 2025
If local environmental regulations are loosened here in order to help quickly rebuild, does that concern you at all?
—CBS News, 12 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for loosen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loosen
Verb
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In these latter clips, Callas is kind of goofing off, relaxing, letting her hair down.—
Jay Nordlinger,
National Review,
22 Jan. 2025
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Discover world-class shopping, indulge in exquisite food and beverages, relax in the waterfront precincts, and experience an array of events and theatre productions.—
Roger Sands,
Forbes,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Share [Findings] Wildfires near Canadian mines were found to have released unprecedented levels of arsenic, and wildfires in Maui were making residents unhappy.—
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi,
Harper's Magazine,
22 Jan. 2025
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In an earlier Inclusions List, 476 theatrically released movies from 2019 to 2023 were analyzed, with on screen and behind-the-camera data used to determine the 150 most inclusive films in that four-year period.—
Etan Vlessing,
The Hollywood Reporter,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Across culture, technology, leadership, and innovation, the continent confounded expectations, forged new paths and unleashed its boundless potential onto the world stage.—
Stephanie Busari and Ifeanyi Abraham,
Essence,
17 Jan. 2025
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But before the volcano unleashed its torrent of rock, ash and toxic gases, Pompeii was just another Roman town on the coast of the Mediterranean.—
Sarah Kuta,
Smithsonian Magazine,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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On Tuesday, crude settled below $76 and that will hopefully help ease concerns over a return of inflation.—
JJ Kinahan,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
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Though dangerous fire weather conditions have eased, officials warned of other potential risks that impacted neighborhoods, including toxic waste and hazardous electricity and gas lines.—
Taylor Wilson,
USA TODAY,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
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If half of your life is intolerable, simply free yourself from it.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Jan. 2025
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In the initial wave, hundreds of Palestinian women and children currently held in Israeli prisons will be freed.—
Asher Kaufman,
The Conversation,
16 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Going after the protections of the 14th Amendment, which granted citizenship to Black American liberated from slavery by the Union Army in the Civil War, is a terrible way to bring reform to immigration, which surely needed reforming.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
21 Jan. 2025
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By the 30th, Uranus will station direct, bringing unexpected shifts and surprises to your love life, as this electric synergy could open doors to new ways of thinking or fresh, liberating connections that challenge your usual type.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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When quantity is the most cherished currency, quality looses out.—
Cornelia C. Walther,
Forbes,
15 Jan. 2025
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Everything from arch support to ankle support felt stable, and the reliable traction was confidence-inducing on everything from slippery rocks to loose dirt, gravel, and patches of snow.—
Maggie Slepian,
Travel + Leisure,
3 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Thousands of them, on average 17 a day, die without having had the opportunity to be rescued.—
Allan Chernoff,
Hartford Courant,
16 Jan. 2025
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These can be necessary when a person is stranded after evacuation and must wait to be rescued.—
Carolyn Rosenblatt,
Forbes,
16 Jan. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Loosen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loosen. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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