loosen

[loo-suhn] / ˈlu sən /

VERB

unbind

Synonyms

STRONGEST

alleviate break up ease loose relax slacken undo unlock unscrew untie

STRONG

deliver detach discharge disconnect disengage disjoin emancipate extricate free liberate manumit mitigate release separate unbar unbolt unbuckle unbutton unchain unclasp unfasten unhitch unhook unlace unlash unleash unloose unpin unstrap

WEAK

become unfastened disenthrall ease off lax let go let out unfix unlatch unsnap unstick untighten work free work loose

Antonyms

STRONGEST

increase tighten

STRONG

attach button combine confine connect couple detain engage fasten hitch hold hook imprison incarcerate join keep limit link restrain unite

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“But when the U.S. loosened the rope around our necks, we could breathe. If they just left us alone, we could find our own solutions.”

From Salon

It’s a dish that demands you loosen up — lean in, risk the stain, share the strand.

From Salon

"Of course the loosening of this policy is good for industry," said Li.

From Barron's

Meta, owner of Facebook and Instagram, in recent years has stepped back from promoting news, while loosening content rules.

From BBC

The central bank has tightened interest rates while the rest of the world loosened, to a punishing 15%.

From Barron's