Loosening and Tightening

Loosening

Loosening noun - The act of making something less tight.

Tightening is an antonym for loosening.

Nearby Words: loosen, loosened, loosener

Tightening

Tightening noun - The act of making something tighter.
Usage example: the tightening of economic controls

Loosening is an antonym for tightening.

Nearby Words: tighten, tightened, tightener

Both words in one sentence

  • Everything Is an Instrument It's played by hitting the cables with a drumstick and tightening or loosening them to create different notes.
  • Bestiality Is Depraved Sheep have sex organs that are "essentially the same" as humans (per answers.com); they also have better control of the muscle responsible for tightening/loosening the opening of the vagina.
Cite this Source
Tightening and Loosening. (2016). Retrieved 2026, August 01, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/loosening/tightening
Loosening & Tightening. N.p., 2016. Web. 01 Aug. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/loosening/tightening>.
Tightening or Loosening. 2016. Accessed August 01, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/loosening/tightening.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "loosening" and "tightening" have occurred on timeline