1
as in to loosen
to make less taut
you'll need to slacken the rope a bit to get it free of that post
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to slow
to cause to move or proceed at a less rapid pace
drivers need to slacken their speed as they approach the sharp curve
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of slacken
Retail sales also fell in February, while firms from Walmart to Delta Air Lines have warned of slackening demand.
—
Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
There are some moments that slacken here, especially as Belflower works her way to the twist, but with no intermission, the play’s frenzied pace continues uninterrupted and helps the inevitable revelation land with a real shock.
—Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
But this attempt to freeze Ukraine into submission has failed, and as spring arrives the pressure on power generation will slacken.
—David Hambling, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
After analyzing participants’ DNA with epigenetic clocks, Bischoff-Ferrari and her colleagues found that omega-3 fatty acids actually slackened aging at the biological level, regardless of participants’ body mass index (BMI), age, and gender.
—Brian Mastroianni, Health, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slacken
Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Apr. 2025
There are some moments that slacken here, especially as Belflower works her way to the twist, but with no intermission, the play’s frenzied pace continues uninterrupted and helps the inevitable revelation land with a real shock.
—Lovia Gyarkye, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019
But this attempt to freeze Ukraine into submission has failed, and as spring arrives the pressure on power generation will slacken.
—David Hambling, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
After analyzing participants’ DNA with epigenetic clocks, Bischoff-Ferrari and her colleagues found that omega-3 fatty acids actually slackened aging at the biological level, regardless of participants’ body mass index (BMI), age, and gender.
—Brian Mastroianni, Health, 12 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for slacken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slacken
Verb
-
Rhodes loosened the rope and pulled it all off its hinges.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
4 Aug. 2025
-
Often, the simple act of naming the roles begins to loosen their grip.—
Jerry Colonna,
Forbes.com,
1 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Typically, jet fuel is the first to be affected by a slowing economy as businesses rein in travel spending.—
Michael Lynch,
Forbes.com,
31 July 2025
-
This in turn slowed blood flow in his neck, causing cells to die.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
31 July 2025
Verb
-
It’s caused by suspension movement, especially over bumps or during braking.—
Kristin Shaw,
Popular Science,
31 July 2025
-
In contrast to other semi-autos, the e-clutch does not require you to rely on the clutch at all, even while braking or stopping.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Slacken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slacken. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share