popustiti

Popustiti is a verb found in several South Slavic languages, including Croatian, Serbian, and Bosnian. It generally means to loosen, to slacken, or to release. The term can describe physical loosening—such as a rope, knot, or binding giving way—as well as the easing of pressure, tension, or intensity. Figuratively, popustiti can signify yielding to pressure, relaxing rules or restrictions, or beginning to relent in an argument or demand.

Etymology and related forms reflect its core sense of letting go. The word derives from pustiti, meaning “to let go” or “to allow,” with the prefix po- adding a sense of completion or further action. The imperfective form is popuštati (or related dialect forms), used for ongoing or repeated loosening or relaxing, while popustiti is the perfective, indicating a completed loosening or relaxation. The noun form popuštanje (loosening or relaxation) is commonly used to describe the process or result.

Usage notes suggest a broad range of contexts. Physically, one might say that a rope or strap has popustilo. In medical or everyday language, pain or tension may be said to have popustio. In social or political contexts, authorities or rules can popustiti under pressure, meaning they become more lenient or relaxed. The term is versatile and appears in both formal and informal registers.

See also: relax, loosen, yield, relent, relief.