as in to facilitate
to free from obstruction or difficulty
hoped that adding a second lane would loosen up traffic on that street
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to relax
to get rid of nervous tension or anxiety
a high-pressure job that makes it hard for him to loosen up even on weekends
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of loosen (up)
Matt Rozo, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2025
The shapes seem to slide soundlessly against one another; the in-between spaces are loosened up with gorgeous floral squirms of green thread.
—Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 2 Jan. 2025
Lift restrictions on shooting outside and in public spaces in L.A. (emulating NYC’s successful program) and offer a temporary reduction in permit fees in conjunction with loosening up notification requirements to reduce FilmLA’s staffing costs.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 1 Mar. 2025
There’s no rivets or something that might loosen up.
—Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for loosen (up)
Verb
Cannabis can help loosen up emotional attachments to clothes that don’t serve you anymore.
—Matt Rozo, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 2025
The shapes seem to slide soundlessly against one another; the in-between spaces are loosened up with gorgeous floral squirms of green thread.
—Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 2 Jan. 2025
Lift restrictions on shooting outside and in public spaces in L.A. (emulating NYC’s successful program) and offer a temporary reduction in permit fees in conjunction with loosening up notification requirements to reduce FilmLA’s staffing costs.
—Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 1 Mar. 2025
There’s no rivets or something that might loosen up.
—Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, 15 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for loosen (up)
Cite this Entry
“Loosen (up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loosen%20%28up%29. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
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