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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of slacken
The trend is a drag on growth, business expansion and job creation in a slackening labor market.
—
Micah McCartney, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025
But as the winds driving the inferno have slackened, experts are cautiously optimistic that the blazes can soon be beaten back.
—Alec Luhn, WIRED, 10 Jan. 2025
When these strong winds slacken, parts of the polar vortex can detach and meander southward, bringing ultra-cold air to southern Canada, the U.S. and Europe.
—Andrew Freedman, Axios, 2 Jan. 2025
Among the Sambia of Papua New Guinea, a man carrying an infant is said to slacken with impotence.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 30 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for slacken
Micah McCartney, Newsweek, 22 Jan. 2025
But as the winds driving the inferno have slackened, experts are cautiously optimistic that the blazes can soon be beaten back.
—Alec Luhn, WIRED, 10 Jan. 2025
When these strong winds slacken, parts of the polar vortex can detach and meander southward, bringing ultra-cold air to southern Canada, the U.S. and Europe.
—Andrew Freedman, Axios, 2 Jan. 2025
Among the Sambia of Papua New Guinea, a man carrying an infant is said to slacken with impotence.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harper's Magazine, 30 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for slacken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slacken
Verb
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The month when winter’s icy grip starts to loosen, and the promise of spring is just around the corner.—
Matt Rozo,
The Mercury News,
28 Feb. 2025
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The firings come as Meta is undergoing sweeping changes, including loosening restrictions on online speech, scaling back diversity initiatives, rolling back its fact-checking program, and aligning more closely with former President Donald Trump’s administration.—
Bruce Gil,
Quartz,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Black Hawk helicopters carrying troops to the Assembly were slowed down because their superior officers did not get advance clearance to fly over Seoul, losing precious time.—
Choe Sang-Hun,
New York Times,
10 Mar. 2025
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Despite his being in his 22nd season in the NBA, James has shown no signs of slowing down this year. Co-star Luka Doncic will be relied upon more heavily down the stretch.—
William Lambers,
Newsweek,
9 Mar. 2025
Verb
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On a faster urban-style circuit, the weight in the back didn’t ruin braking or handling.—
James Morris,
Forbes,
6 Mar. 2025
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Miami Marlins: Two championships (1997, 2003) in 32 seasons — The then-Florida Marlins won the World Series in only their fifth season and repeated six years later, but that early franchise momentum braked and spun into reverse.—
Greg Cote,
Miami Herald,
4 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Slacken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slacken. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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