1
as in careless
failing to give proper care and attention
lax parents who let their kids stay out as late as they want
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in relaxed
not bound by rigid standards
the guidelines for the essay contest were fairly lax, permitting a wide variety of topics
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in loosened
not tightly fastened, tied, or stretched
the sheet on the foresail was lax, and so the sail was flapping wildly in the stiff wind
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lax
That seems doubtful, particularly given its lax enforcement of that policy to date.
—
Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The White House has blamed Democrats, and the Biden administration, for the shooting deaths, citing lax immigration policies.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 27 Jan. 2026
Oklahoma’s lax civil asset forfeiture laws have drawn scrutiny for decades.
—Keaton Ross, Oklahoma Watch, 23 Jan. 2026
The authors of that ban, Rabbi Shaul Sitehon Dabah of the Syrian-Aleppo tradition and the Ashkenazi Rabbi Aharon Goldman, emerged in response to a proliferation of lax or irregular conversions, particularly in rural areas among Jewish immigrants.
—Juan Melamed, Sun Sentinel, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lax
Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 28 Jan. 2026
The White House has blamed Democrats, and the Biden administration, for the shooting deaths, citing lax immigration policies.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 27 Jan. 2026
Oklahoma’s lax civil asset forfeiture laws have drawn scrutiny for decades.
—Keaton Ross, Oklahoma Watch, 23 Jan. 2026
The authors of that ban, Rabbi Shaul Sitehon Dabah of the Syrian-Aleppo tradition and the Ashkenazi Rabbi Aharon Goldman, emerged in response to a proliferation of lax or irregular conversions, particularly in rural areas among Jewish immigrants.
—Juan Melamed, Sun Sentinel, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lax
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lax
Adjective
-
Brooklyn got careless, committing nine turnovers in the quarter.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
10 Feb. 2026
-
That will be the difference in the game unless Darnold is careless with the ball.—
Mike Sando,
New York Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Instead of blindly following your partner into a defensive crouch, lead them back to an open, relaxed posture that builds true connection.—
Matt Abrahams,
CNBC,
9 Feb. 2026
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The crisp side stripes add a chic, athletic edge—wear the full set with retro sneakers, or split it up with the pants styled with a cardigan and the top paired with relaxed denim.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Next, carefully remove the bowl from the microwave and use a microfiber cloth to wipe away all the loosened grime.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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There’s an absent father and a clueless, neglectful mother but the five Gilbert children — Lydia, Hugo, Annabel, Jeremy and Rosalind — are essentially raising themselves in an English country house of secret passages and worrying infestations.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
23 Jan. 2026
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There’s an absent father and a clueless, neglectful mother but the five Gilbert children — Lydia, Hugo, Annabel, Jeremy and Rosalind — are essentially raising themselves in an English country house of secret passages and worrying infestations.—
Chris Hewitt,
Boston Herald,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Experts believe the crown’s flexible mount was strained when thieves wrenched it from its display through a narrow slot cut by the angle grinder, according to a report by the Louvre.—
Laura Sharman,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
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The passenger version supports flexible layouts.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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None of these would form the loose, granular snow conditions that compress under skis on Earth and Pluto's gravity only makes things worse.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
13 Feb. 2026
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This will get rid of any loose hair, flaky skin, or pesky dandruff.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
13 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Chef Velázquez recommends this sandy destination to get together with family and friends for a lazy day at the beach.—
Lauren Sanchez,
Vogue,
10 Feb. 2026
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The destination features the Loco Waterpark, the world’s longest lazy river and seven distinct neighborhoods.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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At times, Epstein characterized the billionaire’s office as sloppy and amateurish, exposing him to taxes and reputational risks while making sensitive payments.—
Tom Schoenberg,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
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The Heat also ran into its own sloppy play, committing 19 turnovers.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lax.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lax. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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