1
as in relaxes
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 frees
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 unleashes
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
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 loosens
Note the control and tightness of the hatched lines on the cheek, and the way the mark loosens with the locks of hair right next to it, like wind rushing around a building.
—
Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
The bill also loosens rules around building increasingly popular accessory dwelling units (ADUs) — such as granny flats, in-law suites or backyard cottages — alongside existing structures.
—Bob Woods, CNBC, 29 Mar. 2026
Other people’s reactions bleed into your own experience; the boundary between self and crowd loosens.
—Yook Jihun, Popular Science, 26 Mar. 2026
House Bill 1095 is a good piece of legislation tarred by a bad amendment that loosens requirements for public notices.
—The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 28 Feb. 2026
Raking also loosens the soil which will provide better seed-to-soil contact.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
Affordable housing bill loosens income limits This year’s draft requires average rents to be affordable to residents earning the 60% area median income.
—Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 26 Feb. 2026
The Department of the Interior finalized its overhaul of the nation’s bedrock environmental law on Monday, which loosens oversight on logging, mining, oil and gas development, and other industrial projects.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 25 Feb. 2026
Time, especially in the second half of life, loosens your grip and offers perspective.
—Dimity McDowell, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
The bill also loosens rules around building increasingly popular accessory dwelling units (ADUs) — such as granny flats, in-law suites or backyard cottages — alongside existing structures.
—Bob Woods, CNBC, 29 Mar. 2026
Other people’s reactions bleed into your own experience; the boundary between self and crowd loosens.
—Yook Jihun, Popular Science, 26 Mar. 2026
House Bill 1095 is a good piece of legislation tarred by a bad amendment that loosens requirements for public notices.
—The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 28 Feb. 2026
Raking also loosens the soil which will provide better seed-to-soil contact.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
Affordable housing bill loosens income limits This year’s draft requires average rents to be affordable to residents earning the 60% area median income.
—Mark Dee, Idaho Statesman, 26 Feb. 2026
The Department of the Interior finalized its overhaul of the nation’s bedrock environmental law on Monday, which loosens oversight on logging, mining, oil and gas development, and other industrial projects.
—Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 25 Feb. 2026
Time, especially in the second half of life, loosens your grip and offers perspective.
—Dimity McDowell, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loosens
Verb
-
Inhalers often contain albuterol, a bronchodilator that relaxes the muscles and opens up the airway.—
Carrie Madormo,
Verywell Health,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Pete Davidson relaxes backstage before taking to the carpet for CinemaCon to promote his upcoming film How to Rob a Bank in Las Vegas on April 15.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As with the separation of Qnity from DuPont , spinning off a strong asset frees it to trade as a pure-play, drawing in new investors and often resulting in a higher valuation.—
,
CNBC,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Eliminating the cab opens up 360-degree sensor coverage across cameras, LiDAR, and radar, and frees payload capacity.—
Lily Mae Lazarus,
Fortune,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
There, Sam unleashes reams upon reams of monologues about their past at a teary Mary, who fills in a few gaps.—
Katie Walsh,
Twin Cities,
18 Apr. 2026
-
There, Sam unleashes reams upon reams of pent-up monologuing about their past while a teary Mary fills in a few gaps.—
Katie Walsh,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The pace eases around May 18, when Venus and Jupiter come together in Cancer and travel side-by-side through early June.—
Steph Koyfman,
Condé Nast Traveler,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The change, signed by Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, does not legalize marijuana federally but eases some regulations.—
David A. Graham,
The Atlantic,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Where Beyoncé added poetic interludes between songs, in Songs from the Hole, the audience learns about Jacobs' story and how his music spiritually liberates him while simultaneously being among the reasons officials cited for not granting him parole.—
Kara Frame,
NPR,
12 Mar. 2026
-
Nuclear fusion, like in the Sun, liberates 630 trillion joules for each kilogram of hydrogen fuel.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Dunkin’ often releases new variations and has enlisted high-profile stars, like singer Sabrina Carpenter and rapper Morgan Thee Stallion, for marketing efforts.—
Jordan Valinsky,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Every weekday, the CNBC Investing Club with Jim Cramer releases the Homestretch — an actionable afternoon update, just in time for the last hour of trading on Wall Street.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This defense is good enough to carry the Broncos to the AFC Championship, but Nix is the key that unlocks that final door, that trip to the Super Bowl.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The Jevons paradox works when a cheaper input unlocks new demand that didn’t previously exist.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Loosens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loosens. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
