· an occurrence of control or strength weakening; "the relaxation of requirements"; "the loosening of his grip"; "the slackening of the wind"

Synonym(s): relaxation, slackening

Hypernym(s): weakening

· the act of making something less tight

Synonym(s): laxation

Hypernym(s): alteration, modification, adjustment

Antonym(s): tightening

· make loose or looser; "loosen the tension on a rope"

Synonym(s): loose

Hypernym(s): change, alter, modify

Antonym(s): stiffen

· make less severe or strict; "The government relaxed the curfew after most of the rebels were caught"

Synonym(s): relax

Hypernym(s): change, alter, modify

· become less severe or strict; "The rules relaxed after the new director arrived"

Synonym(s): relax

Hypernym(s): change

· disentangle and raise the fibers of; "tease wool"

Synonym(s): tease, tease_apart

Hypernym(s): disentangle, unsnarl, straighten_out

· cause to become loose; "undo the shoelace"; "untie the knot"; "loosen the necktie"

Synonym(s): untie, undo

Hypernym(s): change, alter, modify

· make less dense; "loosen the soil"

Hypernym(s): change, alter, modify

· become loose or looser or less tight; "The noose loosened"; "the rope relaxed"

Synonym(s): relax, loose

Hypernym(s): weaken

Antonym(s): stiffen