1
as in loosened
not tightly fastened, tied, or stretched
secure your neckerchief with a loose knot
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unconsolidated
consisting of particles that do not stick together
the car wheels slipped on the loose gravel in the driveway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in flexible
not bound by rigid standards
we tend to be loose with the dress code when we aren't hosting clients at the office
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in free
not bound, confined, or detained by force
there was a brief panic when the lion got loose from its cage at the zoo
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in approximate
not precisely correct
a loose guess about the size of the crowd at the outdoor concert
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in corrupt
having or showing lowered moral character or standards
the loose life that he led in the years before he settled down and found his path
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to fire
to cause (a projectile) to be driven forward with force
the archers loosed a great volley of arrows at the foot soldiers charging towards them
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to unleash
to find emotional release for
do not loose your pent-up frustrations on the next person who happens by
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to free
to set free (as from slavery or confinement)
the ranchers loosed the horses from their stables and into the paddock
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to loosen
to set free (from a state of being held in check)
the storm loosed its full fury when it hit the coastline at high tide
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 loose
Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
There are questions over whether Iran’s nuclear facilities were damaged to the point of uselessness, how much loose nuclear material may now be floating around Iran, and the speed with which Iran can reconstitute its program.
—The Editors, National Review, 24 June 2025
Matthew Specktor, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Even before the rains, rockslides loosed by the wildfire had tumbled onto the road.
—Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for loose
Adjective
The venue's speakeasy vibe and the opportunity to witness these musicians cut loose and be creative makes for a fantastic evening.
—Domenica Bongiovanni, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
There are questions over whether Iran’s nuclear facilities were damaged to the point of uselessness, how much loose nuclear material may now be floating around Iran, and the speed with which Iran can reconstitute its program.
—The Editors, National Review, 24 June 2025
Verb
In the fall of 1982, Love Child receives its title and is loosed into theaters, only to vanish a few weeks later.
—Matthew Specktor, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
Even before the rains, rockslides loosed by the wildfire had tumbled onto the road.
—Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 8 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for loose
Recent Examples of Synonyms for loose
Adjective
-
Management identified a material weakness in internal controls related to verifying information from unconsolidated subsidiaries, which has been addressed with new procedures.—
Quartz Intelligence Newsroom,
Quartz,
1 Apr. 2025
-
Related article Massive sinkhole threatens to swallow West Virginia police department Takashi Oguchi, a geographer from the University of Tokyo, said sinkholes are rare in Japan, where most roads are built on unconsolidated fluvial and marine sediments.—
Yumi Asada, Chris Lau and Minori Konishi,
CNN,
31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Building Flexibility Into Your Estate Plan Revocable Living Trusts as Your Foundation A revocable living trust can serve as the cornerstone of flexible estate planning.—
Patti Brennan,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
-
Paramount+ offers two flexible plans to fit your streaming needs.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
Mitchell, 29, heard of the Summer Saturdays market through word of mouth, a free venue.—
Allana Smith,
Freep.com,
13 July 2025
-
Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more.—
Daysia Tolentino,
EW.com,
13 July 2025
Adjective
-
Target's corporate website doesn't list opening dates for the new stores, but does reveal the approximate size of each new location.—
Chris Sims,
The Courier-Journal,
14 July 2025
-
The Associated Press has assembled an approximate timeline of the events before, during and after the deadly flash flood from sources including state and local documents, social media posts, firsthand accounts and scanner traffic archived on Broadcastify.—
HANNAH FINGERHUT,
Chicago Tribune,
12 July 2025
Adjective
-
And then reality crashes down around them in a series of scenes that expose the cruel hypocrisy of Iran’s corrupt system (which purports to uphold morality, but allows men in positions of authority to indulge themselves in egregious ways).—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
11 July 2025
-
Rachel and Ray need to go on the run after Ray’s investigation into a corrupt pharmaceutical executive puts their live in peril.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
11 July 2025
Verb
-
Apparently, Señor Musk is now working for the government and firing a lot of people from their jobs—and really enjoying it.—
Larry David,
New Yorker,
14 July 2025
-
During the confrontation, Chavis fired two shots, police said.—
Julia Marnin
July 14,
Miami Herald,
14 July 2025
Verb
-
Fewer rules and pages translate to less red tape and less stifling of innovation, potentially unleashing fresh economic dynamism.—
Clyde Wayne Crews Jr,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
The 24-year-old can also unleash a bullet with her left foot, as demonstrated by her screamer against Wales in 2021, her first goal for France.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
30 June 2025
Verb
-
Just in time for the dog days of summer, Farmers' Almanac released its extended fall forecast.—
Olivia Rose,
AZCentral.com,
9 July 2025
-
Just last month, Stray Kids released its new EP, Hollow, but the project didn’t make much of a commercial impact in the United States.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
9 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Loose.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/loose. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share