loosen

verb

ˈlü-sᵊn How to pronounce loosen (audio)
Definition of loosennext
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

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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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example 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 loosen Softer labor figures would justify a balanced approach at the Warsh Fed, leading the committee to take the employment side of the institution's dual mandate into consideration, effectively loosening financial conditions. — Justina Lee,fred Imbert, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026 After mowing, remove lawn clippings and loosen the soil with a steel rake. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 29 Aug. 2026 Afterwards, dry with dryer balls to help further loosen pet hair. — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 29 Aug. 2026 The risk of diversion, addiction, overdose and death are far too great to risk loosening access to methadone, Trejo argued. — Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for loosen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loosen
  1. relax
  2. release
  3. unleash
  4. ease
  5. free
  6. liberate
  7. loose
  8. rescue
Verb
  • Direct flights have resumed between India and China, a few old Silk Road trade routes have opened, and in March India relaxed rules around investment from Beijing.
    — Evelyn Cheng,Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Fences, hedges, noise machines, and relaxing music can all help.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of relax
Verb
  • Police were not immediately releasing the victims’ names pending notification of their families.
    — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
  • The trailer was released Monday before the Cubs showdown with the Brewers, which usually would’ve been the big story of the day if not for the fact that Milwaukee led the division by eight games with a month left.
    — Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of release
Verb
  • Throw him in yard, full go, no more limiting, no snap counts, no concern for opponent’s souls and fully unleash the 25-year-old coming off two ACL surgeries while everyone crosses fingers that his ligaments hold up.
    — Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Instead, the explosive Coleman Report unleashed a 60-year debate over race, resources, and what education in America is actually for.
    — Rund Abdelfatah, NPR, 3 Sep. 2026
Definition of unleash
Verb
  • Anti-anxiety medications, including benzodiazepines such as Ativan, Librium, Xanax and Valium, can work quickly to ease extreme worry, fear, social anxiety or panic attacks.
    — Jen Christensen, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Bidets may also ease discomfort from hemorrhoids, fistulas and anal fissures, and help people with chronic diarrhea or conditions that require frequent wiping.
    — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of ease
Verb
  • If your dishwasher has an upper third rack for utensils, Sala says to lay knives and cutlery there to avoid safety hazards and free up space in the silverware caddy.
    — Claire Hoppe Norgaard, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Sep. 2026
  • About six people then work together to lift the car high enough to free the woman trapped underneath.
    — Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of free
Verb
  • Chad Tracy is an attention-to-detail kind of guy, which helps explain why the Boston Red Sox liberated him from Triple-A obscurity in April to be their interim manager after Alex Cora was let go.
    — Steve Buckley, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026
  • And just down the street, there's an elementary school named after a Haitian leader who helped liberate the island nation.
    — Dana Taylor, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of liberate
Verb
  • His pets were accused of the unneighborly habit of loosing themselves upon suburban streets, prompting panicked phone calls and unnecessary police raids.
    — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Stick to loose clothes with breathable fabrics like linen and cotton.
    — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 13 July 2026
Definition of loose
Verb
  • The Fire Department rescued numerous residents who had become trapped by the flames, which were seen bursting from the building, KCTV5 reported at the time.
    — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Rescuers are still working to search and rescue any potential survivors trapped in a hydropower tunnel in the Rasuwa district.
    — Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of rescue

Phrases Containing loosen

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loosely
loosen
loosened
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Cite this Entry

“Loosen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loosen. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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