as in loosening
to make less taut
the skipper ordered the crew to slack off the sheets on the mainsail
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of slacking
Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 14 Dec. 2025
Verb
Not that the segment was slacking—far from it.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 14 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slacking
Verb
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That’s when something tightened, a brief, instinctual clam-closing and then loosening again just as fast.—
Dawn Lerman,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Lawmakers will debate bills related to loosening gun regulations at colleges in at least eight states this year, including Florida, Louisiana, New Hampshire, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
That 37% figure is encouraging for active families who want to build trips around hiking, cycling, or paddling rather than poolside lounging.—
Lauren Schuster,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Mar. 2026
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The artists will also have indoor and outdoor lounging areas for them, their family, friends and guests.—
Joseph Hernandez
March 13,
Kansas City Star,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Hammers tapped slackening fibers and instead of the pleasant overtones of a major scale, a nauseating cacophony swelled from the instrument’s wooden belly.—
Sasha Geffen,
Pitchfork,
21 Jan. 2026
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There was still a risk of more flash flooding and mudslides Friday despite slackening rain around Los Angeles, the National Weather Service warned.—
TY ONEIL,
Arkansas Online,
27 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
There is no penalty associated with unattended idling in state statute, however, individual municipalities have ordinances in place with fines for the action.—
Anna Kleiber,
jsonline.com,
18 Nov. 2025
Noun
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President Grant Day doesn’t need to be an official or legal holiday where Illinois state employees get the day off, like Lincoln’s Birthday.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
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Louisiana is the only state where Mardi Gras is a legal holiday.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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For rest and relaxation, there’s a fitness and aquatic suite that includes an indoor pool, a hot tub, and both sauna and steam rooms.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Because the body is preparing for rest, your metabolism and digestion slow down, too.—
Desireé Oostland,
Vogue,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Slacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slacking. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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