1
as in loose
not bound, confined, or detained by force
after having been chained for so long, the suddenly footloose dog ran helter-skelter about the yard
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in freewheeling
not held back by rules, duties, or worries
wished I could be as carefree as that footloose toddler
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of footloose
This anthology is a footloose excavation of Muslim food writing foraged from some of South Asia’s best writers, with a recipe tailing each essay.
—
Meher Mirza, Vogue, 5 Dec. 2023
These natural attributes no longer matter as firms are attracted to cities where footloose knowledge workers congregate.
—Ian Goldin, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2023
The result is footloose foreign capital flows out of emerging markets that are deemed riskier.
—Cristina Bodea, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2023
Tip the world, and the fearful and the timid, nailed securely and drearily in place, would stay put — but the footloose and bold and adventuresome would roll into L.A. and remake themselves.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2023
See All Example Sentences for footloose
Meher Mirza, Vogue, 5 Dec. 2023
These natural attributes no longer matter as firms are attracted to cities where footloose knowledge workers congregate.
—Ian Goldin, Fortune, 20 Sep. 2023
The result is footloose foreign capital flows out of emerging markets that are deemed riskier.
—Cristina Bodea, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2023
Tip the world, and the fearful and the timid, nailed securely and drearily in place, would stay put — but the footloose and bold and adventuresome would roll into L.A. and remake themselves.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2023
See All Example Sentences for footloose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for footloose
Adjective
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Tips for Choosing the Right Outdoor Furniture Cover Size An outdoor furniture cover size that’s too large can cause the cover to come loose from your furniture during storms or windy conditions, while a cover that’s too small won’t fit securely on the furniture.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
30 May 2025
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Entering the final year of his contract, which carries a $4.5 million annual average value, Marchment could shake loose as a result of Dallas opting to make some difficult budgetary choices this summer.—
Harman Dayal,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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The podcast format gives Tolbert a more freewheeling forum than radio.—
Jerry McDonald,
The Mercury News,
28 Feb. 2025
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There’s no legal argument to be made against this turn away from fact-checking and towards a more freewheeling, more disinformation-laden, more confusing, more hateful and less illuminating approach.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
13 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.—
Meredith Wilshere,
People.com,
8 June 2025
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Games: Get our free daily crossword puzzle, sudoku, word search and arcade games.—
Julia Wick,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2025
Adjective
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Born from old coffee bean bags, the canvas fabric stood out on the runway, crafted as a casual option for hanging close to shorelines.—
Cassell Ferere,
Forbes.com,
7 June 2025
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The woman’s friend and the casual man spend time every few weeks, play pool, and text daily.—
Stephanie Guerilus,
People.com,
7 June 2025
Adjective
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Ana is incidental to the factory, feels unbound to it, and the only thing holding her back is her mother’s stubborn desire to keep the family together.—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
27 Apr. 2025
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One of the scarier parts of the last few weeks has been this idea that Trump has become totally unbound, even from the few things that kept him on the rails in the first term, such as public opinion and the stock market.—
Carlo Versano,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Footloose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/footloose. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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