slacken

[ slak-uhn ]

/ ˈslæk ən /

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See synonyms for: slacken / slackened / slackening / slackens on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with or without object)

to make or become less active, vigorous, intense, etc.

to make or become looser or less taut.

OTHER WORDS FOR slacken

1, 2 relax, loosen, slack, abate.

See synonyms for slacken on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR slacken

2 tighten, tense.

See antonyms for slacken on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of slacken

First recorded in 1570–80; slack¹ + -en¹

OTHER WORDS FROM slacken

un·slack·ened, adjectiveun·slack·en·ing, adjective

Words nearby slacken

slab-sided, slab top, slab track, slack, slack-baked, slacken, slacker, slack-jawed, slack-key, slack off, slacks

How to use slacken in a sentence

Humidity slackens to moderate levels and highs are mainly in the mid-80s.
Updated forecast: Flash flood watch extended into District due to downpours from Elsa|David Streit, Jason Samenow|July 8, 2021|Washington Post
The drug-approval process slackened considerably, and the result has been many products with minimal effectiveness generating enormous profits.
How the Drug Industry Has Exploited Reforms Started in the Fight Against AIDS - Facts So Romantic|Robert Bazell|June 28, 2021|Nautilus
Although Yahoo’s traffic has held steady, advertisers’ interest has slackened in the shadow of its parent organization.
Yahoo’s latest redesign could help the website reignite advertisers’ interest|Sara Guaglione|April 1, 2021|Digiday
In the 1990s, his pace began to slacken, and eventually the hits evaporated.
Are We in the Midst of a Kevin Costner Comeback?|Andrew Romano|January 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The country became more broken, and the grade so pronounced that the horses were compelled to slacken their pace.
Mystery Ranch|Arthur Chapman
It seems that once started on the rails of fortune, people need a certain time to slacken their speed or stop.
The Nabob|Alphonse Daudet
By 8.0 the musketry and the shelling began to slacken down although there was a good deal of desultory shooting.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume 2|Ian Hamilton
If this is repeated a great many times the nut may slacken back so far as to become useless.
An Introduction to Machine Drawing and Design|David Allan Low
We were gaining on him still, and the heat of the day made him slacken his pace.
Dross|Henry Seton Merriman

British Dictionary definitions for slacken

slacken

/ (ˈslækən) /

verb (often foll by off)

to make or become looser

to make or become slower, less intense, etc

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

slacken

OTHER WORDS FOR slacken

OPPOSITES FOR slacken

Origin of slacken

OTHER WORDS FROM slacken

Words nearby slacken

Words related to slacken

How to use slacken in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for slacken