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
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of loosened
Tobias Burns, The Hill, 18 Dec. 2024
The man eventually loosened the binding on one of the woman’s hands and left.
—Kevin Grasha, The Enquirer, 11 Dec. 2024
The historic structure had become loosened from its foundation over time, and the work will secure it, Bradburn said.
—Michael E. Ruane The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 20 Oct. 2024
That said, the world’s richest sports league has loosened some of its rules in recent years.
—Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 15 Oct. 2024
In recent years, the government has offered considerable incentives and tax breaks, and loosened restrictions on auto lending.
—Afp, Fortune Asia, 15 Apr. 2024
Lagrange’s method, despite seeming like a mere mathematical convenience at the time, loosened the straitjacket of Newton’s mechanistic view of the universe as a sequence of falling dominos.
—Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 25 Sep. 2024
Verb
Financial conditions have loosened.
—Tobias Burns, The Hill, 18 Dec. 2024
The man eventually loosened the binding on one of the woman’s hands and left.
—Kevin Grasha, The Enquirer, 11 Dec. 2024
The historic structure had become loosened from its foundation over time, and the work will secure it, Bradburn said.
—Michael E. Ruane The Washington Post, arkansasonline.com, 20 Oct. 2024
That said, the world’s richest sports league has loosened some of its rules in recent years.
—Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 15 Oct. 2024
In recent years, the government has offered considerable incentives and tax breaks, and loosened restrictions on auto lending.
—Afp, Fortune Asia, 15 Apr. 2024
Lagrange’s method, despite seeming like a mere mathematical convenience at the time, loosened the straitjacket of Newton’s mechanistic view of the universe as a sequence of falling dominos.
—Charlie Wood, Quanta Magazine, 25 Sep. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loosened
Adjective
-
The ski lift is 15 meters (more than 49 feet) high, the Spanish Civil Guard said in a post on X. Part of its structure collapsed after one of its pulleys became loose, Spanish public broadcaster RTVE reported.—
Catherine Nicholls,
CNN,
18 Jan. 2025
-
The remaining market and international signings will shake loose after the most significant domino tumbled.—
Bryce Miller,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
After Stern retired in 2014, the code was relaxed, allowing for progressively zanier ’fits.—
Maya Singer,
Vogue,
8 Jan. 2025
-
And such a large cast, and so many children, all so at ease and relaxed together.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
8 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The hostages were freed January 21, 1981, moments after Reagan’s inauguration.—
Arthur House,
Hartford Courant,
30 Dec. 2024
-
People freed from slavery were largely able to stake their claim on the area in the mid-1800s because white settlers passed it over.—
Karina Atkins,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Then, the massive devastation of Beirut’s port blast in 2020 unleashed a shock wave explosion that destroyed the cinema complex in the city’s nightlife district.—
Etan Vlessing,
The Hollywood Reporter,
21 Dec. 2024
-
The transformative ride unleashed a range of emotions.—
Ashley Vega,
People.com,
20 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
If the rules are too slack, people take advantage of them.—
Dave Altimari,
Hartford Courant,
8 Jan. 2025
-
Fernandes has no right to seize upon a slack backpass and lob Kelleher from about 40 yards out.—
Carl Anka,
The Athletic,
7 Apr. 2024
Verb
-
The store was shut during the COVID-19 pandemic and was reopened briefly after Shanghai eased lockdown measures.—
Tianwei Zhang,
WWD,
6 Jan. 2025
-
Unfriendly clouds loomed as the Star Breeze eased out of the lagoon.—
David Swanson,
Travel + Leisure,
5 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The individual, whose identity hasn’t been released, was quickly restrained by fellow passengers and later detained by state troopers.—
Muri Assunção,
New York Daily News,
8 Jan. 2025
-
Judging by the nearly 45 minutes of trailers and assorted promotional material that have been released to date, Kojima is doubling down on everything that made the original such a brilliant, odd classic.—
Lewis Gordon,
Vulture,
8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Anyone who has worked on a car, tended a garden, or written a computer program can tell you that systems are complicated, and always leaking, dying, or coming undone.—
Joshua Rothman,
The New Yorker,
14 Jan. 2025
-
Boho is fun and pleasing to look at—but just a little undone.—
Maggie Gillette,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near loosened
Cite this Entry
“Loosened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loosened. Accessed 28 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share