loosen
[verb]
Synonyms:
- untie, detach, separate, undo, unloose
- free, liberate, release, set free
- loosen up: relax, ease up or off, go easy (informal), let up, soften

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Antonyms: tighten

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English Thesaurus: unfasten, undo, untie, unbutton, unzip, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

loos‧en /ˈluːsən/ verb

1. [intransitive and transitive] to make something less tight or less firmly fastened, or to become less tight or less firmly fastened Antonym : tighten:
You’ll need a spanner to loosen that bolt.
The screws have loosened.
Harry loosened his tie.

2. [transitive] to make laws, rules etc less strict Synonym : relax Antonym : tighten:
Congress has loosened the restrictions on immigration.

3. loosen your grip/hold
a) to reduce the control or power you have over someone or something
loosen your grip/hold on
The government has loosened its hold on the media considerably.
b) to start holding someone or something less tightly than you were before Antonym : tighten
loosen your grip/hold on
He loosened his grip on David’s arm.

4. loosen sb’s tongue to make someone talk more than usual, especially about things they should not talk about
loosen up phrasal verb

1. to stop worrying and become more relaxed, or to make someone do this:
She loosened up after she’d had a drink.
loosen somebody ↔ up
His welcoming smile helped loosen her up.

2. if your muscles loosen up, or if something loosens them up, they stop feeling stiff
loosen something ↔ up
A massage will loosen up your joints.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

unfasten to open the two sides of a piece of clothing, bag, belt etc:
It was hot in the waiting-room, so I unfastened my coat.
Please do not unfasten your seatbelt while the vehicle is in motion.
undo to unfasten clothes or unfasten buttons, zips etc on clothes:
My fingers were so cold that I couldn’t undo the buttons.
untie to unfasten the knot that fastens shoes, a tie, a scarf etc:
He untied his shoes and kicked them off.
unbutton to unfasten the buttons on a piece of clothing:
She slowly unbuttoned her blouse.
unzip to unfasten clothes, bags etc by unfastening a zip:
She unzipped the case and took out a thick file.
loosen to unfasten clothes a little, but not completely, in order to make yourself more comfortable:
Carter took off his jacket and loosened his tie.
open to unfasten a bag, box, or other container:
‘Could you open your bag, please?’ said the security guard.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲