Synonyms and antonyms of To loosen or tighten in British Thesaurus

To loosen or tighten

loosen (verb)

to become or make something less firmly fixed in position

loosen (verb)

to become or make something less tightly fastened

unwind (verb)

to become straighter or looser after being wrapped around something else, or to make something do this

to become looser, or to make something looser

relax (verb)

to become less tight and more comfortable

slip (verb)

to become free, or to no longer be held by something

to pull something such as a rope or a belt until it is straighter or until it fits more tightly around something

to pull something so that it becomes smooth, straight, and tight

to turn something such as a screw or a lid until it is tight and you cannot turn it any more

if something such as a rope or a chain tightens, it becomes straighter or it fits more tightly around something

cinch (verb)

to pull something such as a belt tightly around something

to pull a rope so that it is no longer loose

tauten (verb)

to become firm or tight, or to make something firm or tight

literary to untie something, or to make it looser