as in mellow
chiefly US, informal
very loose or relaxed
The assistant manager had a loosey-goosey attitude about the store's return policy.
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Recent Examples of loosey-goosey
This isn’t to say McDermott has become loosey-goosey.
—
Dan Pompei, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
As Prynoski runs a quick session, the loosey-goosey fantasy RPG-meets-drinking game — whose kookily illustrated cards and dice all glow under blacklights — feels oddly like a natural next step for Titmouse.
—James Grebey, Rolling Stone, 28 Nov. 2025
If things are left too loosey-goosey and vague, that can result in mixed expectations within your organization.
—Kathleen Walch, Fortune, 11 Nov. 2025
While their Afrocentric paeans to the motherland signal a commitment to Black uplift, their loosey-goosey grooves—plundered from records by Mandrill, Manu Dibango, and Kool & the Gang, and frequently scratched straight from turntables to tape—drink from a deep well of pure pleasure.
—Pitchfork, 30 Sep. 2025
This worldwide experiment is loosey-goosey and carries weighty consequences.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Dogma is having a resurgence; Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back is similarly satirical in that loosey-goosey way Smith does so well.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 July 2025
The boundary of entertainment is a lot more loosey-goosey.
—Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Jan. 2025
Dan Pompei, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2026
As Prynoski runs a quick session, the loosey-goosey fantasy RPG-meets-drinking game — whose kookily illustrated cards and dice all glow under blacklights — feels oddly like a natural next step for Titmouse.
—James Grebey, Rolling Stone, 28 Nov. 2025
If things are left too loosey-goosey and vague, that can result in mixed expectations within your organization.
—Kathleen Walch, Fortune, 11 Nov. 2025
While their Afrocentric paeans to the motherland signal a commitment to Black uplift, their loosey-goosey grooves—plundered from records by Mandrill, Manu Dibango, and Kool & the Gang, and frequently scratched straight from turntables to tape—drink from a deep well of pure pleasure.
—Pitchfork, 30 Sep. 2025
This worldwide experiment is loosey-goosey and carries weighty consequences.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Dogma is having a resurgence; Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back is similarly satirical in that loosey-goosey way Smith does so well.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 10 July 2025
The boundary of entertainment is a lot more loosey-goosey.
—Mikey O'Connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loosey-goosey
Adjective
-
The members consistently acknowledge that this lead single is a mellower departure from their usual style; when RM reflects in a meeting that the song feels a bit low in energy, Jung Kook says the entire track feels that way.—
Jennifer Zhan,
Vulture,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Leeks are sturdy enough to survive winter frosts, sprouting with a gradation of green colors and a mellow flavor all their own.—
Rebecca Firkser,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Diamond Crystal or Morton kosher salt to reserved bowl with saffron; whisk until smooth.—
Rebecca Firkser,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
23 Mar. 2026
-
December 22 – January 19 Small systems make your day run smoother.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The robot will vacuum oil from the water’s surface, return to its base station to discharge the collected oil, and then redeploy to the spill site.—
Ben Coxworth
March 10,
New Atlas,
10 Mar. 2026
-
The collected data is then analyzed by an outside statistician before the report is issued.—
Theresa Clift,
Sacbee.com,
25 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The beach is flat–just right for soccer or throwing a football–and the water is usually fairly calm and great for taking out a standup paddleboard or a surfboard.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The mix of calm bordeaux and vibrant green makes for interesting styling indeed.—
Jana Ackermann,
Glamour,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Scott inflicts Ohm’s nonchalant meanness with a piercingly perverse matter-of-factness that places the character as far away as possible from the realm of likeability.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Variety,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Margot Robbie’s understanding of the assignment is evident, her fringe frame coupled with a low and loosely bound ponytail (another hallmark of the nonchalant set).—
Calin Van Paris,
InStyle,
11 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Due to increasing activity from the Anthelion sporadic meteor source (a broad region in the night sky that produces a steady, low-level stream of meteors year round) and maybe improved reporting, this amount reflects both a high total count and frequency.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Driving at a steady 55 mph can increase fuel economy by 6 to 8 mpg, the publication said in a report that offered tips to get the most out of a tank of gas.—
Matthew Daly,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Meanwhile, some good news is in the forecast for the drought- and heat-plagued West, as a cool, wet and even snowy pattern is forecast to bring some relief that's desperately needed across the region.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2026
-
In the Philippines, government offices are now open just four days a week and bureaucrats must limit the use of air conditioning to nothing cooler than 75°F (24°C).—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The service The service style at 1 Hotel Tokyo is easygoing and never stuffy.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 Mar. 2026
-
After the opening of their downtown Bleecker Street location, this move uptown feels like a natural evolution—bridging easygoing California elegance with a sense of East Coast prim and polish.—
Laura Jackson,
Vogue,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Loosey-goosey.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loosey-goosey. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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