LOOSENED Synonyms: 114 Similar and Opposite Words

loosened 1 of 2

adjective

as in loose

not tightly fastened, tied, or stretched the loosened nuts finally dropped off of the screws

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

loosened

2 of 2

verb

past tense of loosen

as in relaxed

to make less taut the lead climber loosened the climbing rope so that the other climber could have more room to maneuver

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in freed

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

as in unleashed

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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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 loosened

Adjective

Use a non-abrasive scrubbing sponge or a microfiber cloth to remove all the loosened debris. — Maria Sabella, The Spruce, 19 Sep. 2026 The loosened restrictions will not empower Washington to pursue investment and economic cooperation with al Sharaa’s government, which could transform the impoverished country. — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 27 Aug. 2026 Scrub the metal grid with a dish sponge or brush to remove loosened debris. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2026 Hence shirt jackets and safari jackets in linen and leather came to the fore, as did denim Bermudas, linen polos and lots of lifestyle knits amid its more formal, full-canvas tailoring — styled with a loosened tie. — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 22 June 2026 For now, though, Detroit’s automakers are leaning into the lucre that comes from selling millions of fossil-fuel vehicles in a rare moment of loosened regulation. — Bloomberg, Oc Register, 24 Feb. 2026 Next, carefully remove the bowl from the microwave and use a microfiber cloth to wipe away all the loosened grime. — Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2025 The board’s Budget and Legislative Analyst said the loosened contracting rules could apply to more than $1 billion in government spending. — J.d. Morris, San Francisco Chronicle, 29 Jan. 2025

Verb

None of this has loosened the ties among the United States’ adversaries. — Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 16 Oct. 2026 In a law firm, access can’t be loosened for convenience; client confidentiality depends on who sees what. — Sean Nathaniel, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026 Traditional suiting is loosened with oversized silhouettes, fluid fabrications and styling that is elevated, but never too formal. — Emma Spedding, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2026 Over time these requirements loosened, and in 2025 the FDA ended mandatory blood testing in conjunction with clozapine use. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Oct. 2026 My family had the same set for at least 20 years before the screws loosened past the point of no return. — Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 6 Oct. 2026 Glambert rescued the tribute—the only singer who didn’t look one tiny bit nervous tackling this songbook, peacocking in a black-leather cape, and his confidence loosened everyone up onstage. — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2026 Teen-pregnancy rates have dropped dramatically, women have far more educational and professional opportunities, and social norms that stigmatized childlessness have loosened. — Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026 Things loosened considerably when an Argentina trip with polo player and model Nacho Figueras came up. — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 11 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for loosened

Adjective

Maybe the shooting shook something loose in her and has amplified her worst tendencies.

— Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2026
Think tombstones, solid skeletons, signs or other decorations that hold their shape and don’t have loose or dangling parts.

— Katie Koschalk, Scientific American, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of loose

Verb

The canal sparkled gray-green in the sunlight and on the opposite bank, people walked their dogs and relaxed on benches along 365’s esplanade.

— Kim Velsey, Curbed, 9 Oct. 2026
In a picture shared in the post taken on Fall Picture Day, Cagle said Burfield had relaxed smile and a sense of ease.

— Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of relaxed

Verb

But within a couple years, as the pandemic eased and community-police tension subsided, Bolingbrook Police Chief Mike Rompa started using his village purchasing card – known as a p-card – in a different way than others with the same cards.

— Irika Sargent, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
Values in both markets rose when fighting started at the end of February, eased in June when talks were being held, and increased again after fighting resumed in July.

— SJ Guest Editorial, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of eased

Verb

When released under conditions of acute stress, glucocorticoids power fight or flight by shunting metabolic energy away from processes such as digestion and toward the heart, lungs, brain and muscles.

— Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
In Registan Square on Monday, Rubio’s Uzbek hosts released hundreds of pigeons into the sky and filled the vast space with local pop music.

— Reuters, NBC news, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of released

Adjective

Effortless Texture Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images Speaking of long hair, von Cannon predicts lived-in, undone texture is the way to go.

— Audrey Noble, Vogue, 12 Oct. 2026
Marine Serre showed its signature crescent print on long shorts and short circle skirts, and The Row went back to basics with inky blue jeans and an undone white button-down shirt.

— Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of undone

Browse Nearby Words

loosen

loosened

loosened (up)

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Style

“Loosened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loosened. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of loosened

adjective

verb

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