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
New Atlas, 13 Apr. 2026
Not that the segment was slacking—far from it.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 14 Dec. 2025
Verb
Redneck points out that it's heightened the XL's front wall by 11 inches (28 cm) as compared to older Freedom models, slacking up the angle of the roof to adjust for it.
—New Atlas, 13 Apr. 2026
Not that the segment was slacking—far from it.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 14 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slacking
Noun
-
The researchers concluded that at least one of the keys to preventing social loafing is restoring individual responsibility within a group.—
Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez,
Fortune,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The results suggest a broad surge in support for loosening restrictions on research into substances such as psilocybin and MDMA to probe their potential for medical use.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
13 May 2026
-
Using a butter knife, remove thin outer membrane on back of ribs by loosening and pulling it off; discard.—
Jasmine Smith,
Southern Living,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
Goddess Retreats in Seminyak, Bali leans into healing ceremonies, spa treatments and poolside lounging, with café stops and shopping built in.—
Lauren Schuster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 May 2026
-
Outside, the garden was elevated by replacing traditional English boxwood hedges with new plantings, including dogwood trees, and creating multiple outdoor spaces for dining and lounging.—
Demetrius Simms,
Robb Report,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Another factor was the slackening appeal of industrial companies, which had long absorbed the greatest number of young graduates.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 May 2026
-
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
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
-
California, where his farm workers organizing movement began, made his birthday a legal holiday in 2000, and President Barack Obama later established it as a federal commemorative holiday.—
Steve Chapman,
Chicago Tribune,
6 May 2026
-
Louisiana is the only state where Mardi Gras is a legal holiday.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
It’s not calculated to put anxious writers’ minds at rest—most of us already live in fear that our flimsy characters will be exposed through our work.—
David O’Neill,
New Yorker,
20 May 2026
-
Instead of eating it immediately after preparing it, letting bean salad rest in the refrigerator allows the flavors to deepen and develop.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Slacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slacking. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
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