LOOSENS Synonyms: 92 Similar and Opposite Words

loosens

verb

present tense third-person singular of loosen

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

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as in frees

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 unleashes

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 loosens Blonde loosens the plot, leaning into the unreliability of memory and the false truths that occupy the gaps between love and certainty. — Jeff Ihaza, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026 In Antonioni’s film, after a woman disappears during a boating vacation, her partner and her best friend travel around looking for her, while the bond between them tightens and their grip on the threads of certainty loosens. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 19 Aug. 2026 November 22 – December 21 Fresh laughter loosens rigid thinking and plans. — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 Aug. 2026 Sagittarius November 22 – December 21 Fresh laughter loosens rigid thinking and plans. — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 10 Aug. 2026 That's the day this work stopped feeling theoretical to me and became proof of what's possible once fear loosens its grip. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 The afternoon loosens into tapas at Tapeo and whatever the pastry chefs are improvising that week at Bubó. — Condé Nast Traveler, 15 July 2026 The legislation loosens regulations to encourage housing construction and limits Wall Street investors from buying homes that could go to families instead. — Allison Pecorin, ABC News, 11 July 2026 Instead of relying on your own elbow grease (and a lot of bending), a steam cleaner loosens grime using heat and moisture. — Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 11 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for loosens

Verb

And then of course the jacuzzi, which releases tension and relaxes the muscles.

— Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026
The advocates argue that the bill relaxes age-verification requirements and includes an advertising carveout for Google.

— Benjamin Guggenheim, Washington Post, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of relaxes

Verb

Instead of managing an entire meal, planning for just dessert and drinks frees you up to tidy the house or relax without standing over a stove for hours before guests arrive.

— Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 25 Aug. 2026
The trade frees up Brown, Doubs, DeMario Douglas, Mack Hollins, Kyle Williams and Efton Chism to make the Patriots’ 53-man roster while providing the team with more safety depth and a future draft pick.

— Doug Kyed, Boston Herald, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of frees

Verb

The Troop follows a troop of boys who, while on their annual scout camping trip, encounter an intruder who unleashes something far more terrifying than any campfire ghost story.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026
And Denise, rather than retreating from the action, unleashes a piercing battle cry and plunges into the mayhem head on.

— Justin Chang, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of unleashes

Verb

Scheduling days without food may have a knock-on effect that eases both chronic pain and its associated cognitive problems, according to a study on mice by researchers from the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University in China.

— Mike McRae August 25, New Atlas, 25 Aug. 2026
The move, officials say, gives the mission more heft and eases collaboration with the Navy and Air Force, which are at the forefront of the administration’s campaigns.

— Megan Rose, ProPublica, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of eases

Verb

Treatment doesn’t diminish human potential, but often liberates it.

— Rachel Docekal, STAT, 21 Aug. 2026
Harvard’s research confirms that AI liberates managers from coordination and relay tasks, freeing them for judgment, contextual intelligence, and human connection that no system can replicate.

— Brett Hurt, Fortune, 23 June 2026

Definition of liberates

Verb

For Anthropic, the deal unlocks additional future processing power ahead of the company’s planned IPO.

— J.D. Capelouto, semafor.com, 28 Aug. 2026
For Kickstarter stretch goals, reaching $50,000 with 250 backers unlocks one additional filter for all backers, while $100,000 with 500 backers unlocks three.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 28 Aug. 2026