1
as in relaxes
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 frees
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 unleashes
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
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Recent Examples of loosens
Other people’s reactions bleed into your own experience; the boundary between self and crowd loosens.
—
Yook Jihun, Popular Science, 26 Mar. 2026
House Bill 1095 is a good piece of legislation tarred by a bad amendment that loosens requirements for public notices.
—The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 28 Feb. 2026
Raking also loosens the soil which will provide better seed-to-soil contact.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
Affordable housing bill loosens income limits This year’s draft requires average rents to be affordable to residents earning the 60% area median income.
—Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 26 Feb. 2026
The Department of the Interior finalized its overhaul of the nation’s bedrock environmental law on Monday, which loosens oversight on logging, mining, oil and gas development, and other industrial projects.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 25 Feb. 2026
Time, especially in the second half of life, loosens your grip and offers perspective.
—Dimity McDowell, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
As winter slowly loosens its grip, the animal rehabilitators hope rising temperatures will ease the strain on wildlife.
—John Dias, CBS News, 21 Feb. 2026
Once the gunk loosens, simply wipe the interior clean with a cloth.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Feb. 2026
Yook Jihun, Popular Science, 26 Mar. 2026
House Bill 1095 is a good piece of legislation tarred by a bad amendment that loosens requirements for public notices.
—The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 28 Feb. 2026
Raking also loosens the soil which will provide better seed-to-soil contact.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
Affordable housing bill loosens income limits This year’s draft requires average rents to be affordable to residents earning the 60% area median income.
—Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 26 Feb. 2026
The Department of the Interior finalized its overhaul of the nation’s bedrock environmental law on Monday, which loosens oversight on logging, mining, oil and gas development, and other industrial projects.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 25 Feb. 2026
Time, especially in the second half of life, loosens your grip and offers perspective.
—Dimity McDowell, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
As winter slowly loosens its grip, the animal rehabilitators hope rising temperatures will ease the strain on wildlife.
—John Dias, CBS News, 21 Feb. 2026
Once the gunk loosens, simply wipe the interior clean with a cloth.
—Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 15 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loosens
Verb
-
Don’t be afraid to suggest budget caps for group plans, because everyone relaxes when guidelines are simple and visible.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Rising Star in Beverly Hills Gable relaxes on the veranda of his new Beverly Hills rental home in this 1931 photo, which accompanied an article in Screenland magazine.—
Katie Schultz,
Architectural Digest,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But for occasional rice preparation, the stovetop method works perfectly well — and frees up valuable counter and cabinet space.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026
-
That frees up the conversation surrounding optimal deployment of the big outscorers.—
Allan Mitchell,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In the process, Nicole unintentionally unleashes a terrifyingly malign spirit who lures victims to their deaths with a haunting whistle.—
K.J. Yossman,
Variety,
1 Apr. 2026
-
For example, when Les unleashes the couple's cat Magoo on Lindy, Banks expected a certain level of playfulness.—
Sarah Rodman,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Before heading to the bathroom to begin her morning skin-care routine, Rose Ingleton eases into the day in her sunlit Brooklyn brownstone.—
Kaleigh Fasanella,
Allure,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Mallard even eases Vance into heaven, which lights up ethereally behind the door of what is normally the NCIS director's adjoining assistant's office.—
Haadiza Ogwude,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Where Beyoncé added poetic interludes between songs, in Songs from the Hole, the audience learns about Jacobs' story and how his music spiritually liberates him while simultaneously being among the reasons officials cited for not granting him parole.—
Kara Frame,
NPR,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Nuclear fusion, like in the Sun, liberates 630 trillion joules for each kilogram of hydrogen fuel.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Homecoming through death, which, once the card is dealt, releases me from my placelessness .—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
31 Mar. 2026
-
This releases chlorine atoms — like a microscopic, demented Pac-Man, a single one can devour more than 100,000 ozone molecules.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Our expert take The Citi Strata Premier® Card has competitive rewards rates and unlocks access to all of the Citi ThankYou® transfer partners, which boosts the value of your points.—
Ryley Amond,
CNBC,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Each pack consists of a photocard for either Huntr/X or the Saja Boys and a Derpy access card with a QR code that unlocks exclusive content via the McDonald's app.—
Bebe Hodges,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Loosens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loosens. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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