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
Relevance
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of loosen
Use steam inside your refrigerator to loosen stuck on food and spills.
—
Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 July 2025
Instead, for three consecutive years, Djokovic, the Serbian superstar who owns the most Grand Slam titles in tennis history, has been denied that place atop Wimbledon's all-time leaderboard as his grip on Grand Slam tournaments has loosened.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 11 July 2025
The tie closure is a surprisingly nice touch — tighten or loosen it to find your most comfortable fit.
—Michelle Rostamian, People.com, 6 July 2025
The fine dining restaurant, La Finca, holds a Michelin star, even as veteran chef Fernando Arjona and his team have loosened things up, moving away from a long tasting menu toward a relaxed a la carte approach.
—Ann Abel, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for loosen
Kathy Barnes, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 July 2025
Instead, for three consecutive years, Djokovic, the Serbian superstar who owns the most Grand Slam titles in tennis history, has been denied that place atop Wimbledon's all-time leaderboard as his grip on Grand Slam tournaments has loosened.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 11 July 2025
The tie closure is a surprisingly nice touch — tighten or loosen it to find your most comfortable fit.
—Michelle Rostamian, People.com, 6 July 2025
The fine dining restaurant, La Finca, holds a Michelin star, even as veteran chef Fernando Arjona and his team have loosened things up, moving away from a long tasting menu toward a relaxed a la carte approach.
—Ann Abel, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for loosen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loosen
Verb
-
Try to relax, rip currents don't pull you under the water.—
Tresa Baldas,
Freep.com,
20 July 2025
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Today, this canal is a natural lazy river, at once a testament to the immense history of the land and a relaxing destination to enjoy the unrivaled beauty of the Sian Ka'an Biosphere Reserve.—
Carley Rojas Avila,
Travel + Leisure,
19 July 2025
Verb
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Regarding Trump's assertions, the White House pointed NPR to a 2022 analysis done by the district attorney's office in Yolo County, Calif., which found that most of the 595 people released there without bail during the study period committed new crimes.—
Meg Anderson,
NPR,
21 July 2025
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Maybe investigative documents, perhaps including the files Trump ordered released, can answer some of these questions.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
21 July 2025
Verb
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More gossip was unleashed when Albert was photographed with his son Alexandre Grimaldi, daughter Jazmin Grace Grimaldi and Nicole Coste, Alexandre’s mother, in 2023.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
14 July 2025
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Matteson said another natural disaster could happen living so close to the Guadalupe River, which rose after slow-moving thunderstorms unleashed a summer’s worth of rain in a few hours.—
Taylor Galgano,
CNN Money,
13 July 2025
Verb
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Such a levy — already proven to work during the war — would ease the burden on consumers and reallocate the tax burden to those most able to pay.—
Joseph Thorndike,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
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Conscious sedation safely eases pain and anxiety during minor medical procedures.—
Pamela Assid,
Verywell Health,
21 July 2025
Verb
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The raptor stayed on top of her, even as the woman’s partner tried to free her.—
Joshua Rapp Learn,
Smithsonian Magazine,
14 July 2025
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And, of course, using social media less could also free up more time for parents to spend playing with their kids.—
Kara Alaimo,
CNN Money,
13 July 2025
Verb
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Women were liberated to work and contribute during the war and then were basically told to get back behind the stove.—
Jenelle Riley,
Variety,
15 July 2025
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This era saw the launch of a new generation of media stars liberated from any editorial authority that might submit their assertions to a fact check.—
Clarence Page,
Chicago Tribune,
13 July 2025
Verb
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Also, though, NIL and transfer portal has loosed college coaches (UCLA) who ‘embolden’ QB Dads by luring kids/families to leave for even more money.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
29 May 2025
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Ro has loosed them upon the galaxy, striking fear into the heart of even the most stalwart Jedi.—
Dalton Ross,
EW.com,
29 May 2025
Verb
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Two cats, a ferret and a dog were rescued, though the dog, a German shepherd, escaped and has not been found, fire Chief David Haywood said.—
Olivia Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
14 July 2025
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Shaunna’s 11-year-old daughter was rescued from the water during the incident.—
Raven Brunner,
People.com,
13 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Loosen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loosen. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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