loosen

make loose or looser

• “loosen the tension on a rope”

make less severe or strict

• “The government relaxed the curfew after most of the rebels were caught”

become less severe or strict

• “The rules relaxed after the new director arrived”

disentangle and raise the fibers of

• “tease wool”

cause to become loose

• “undo the shoelace”
• “untie the knot”
• “loosen the necktie”

make less dense

• “loosen the soil”

become loose or looser or less tight

• “The noose loosened”
• “the rope relaxed”