slack 1 of 3

Definition of slacknext
1
2
3

slack

2 of 3

noun

1
as in latitude
an allowable margin of freedom or variation our boss doesn't cut us any slack when it comes to being back from lunch on time

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
as in slackness
the extent to which something hangs or dips below a straight line take up the slack of a rope

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3

slack

3 of 3

verb

as in to loosen
to make less taut the skipper ordered the crew to slack off the sheets on the mainsail

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word slack different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of slack are lax, neglectful, negligent, and remiss. While all these words mean "culpably careless or indicative of such carelessness," slack implies want of due or necessary diligence or care.

slack workmanship

When might lax be a better fit than slack?

While in some cases nearly identical to slack, lax implies a blameworthy lack of strictness, severity, or precision.

a reporter lax about accurate quotation

When could neglectful be used to replace slack?

The words neglectful and slack can be used in similar contexts, but neglectful adds a more disapproving implication of laziness or deliberate inattention.

a society callously neglectful of the poor

In what contexts can negligent take the place of slack?

While the synonyms negligent and slack are close in meaning, negligent implies inattention to one's duty or business.

negligent about writing a note of thanks

When is it sensible to use remiss instead of slack?

The synonyms remiss and slack are sometimes interchangeable, but remiss implies blameworthy carelessness shown in slackness, forgetfulness, or neglect.

had been remiss in their familial duties

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 slack
Adjective
Ben O’Hanlon, the key stunt rigger, rigged up a slack line that went around a corner. Leia Mendoza, Variety, 26 Sep. 2025 For months, Wall Street commentators have fretted that the artificial intelligence boom looks like a bubble, with capital spending – which some analysts estimate could reach $3 trillion by 2028 – fattening a few mega-cap firms, while lower-income workers suffer from a slack labor market. Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 17 Sep. 2025
Noun
Maybe these choices aren’t driven by a fear of ceding audience attention to TikTok so much as by fear of letting a taut story go slack. Ben Travers, IndieWire, 4 Feb. 2026 The picks below capture the same energy and happen to look great with matching slacks or cigarette jeans. Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
Selva raised her chin, causing the length of rope above the noose to go slightly slack. George Packer, The Atlantic, 6 Nov. 2025 Conventional mooring setups can easily become overextended or slack as levels shift, forcing operators to perform manual readjustments or face operational risks. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 7 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for slack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slack
Adjective
  • Fighting inflation by raising interest rates is lazy policy.
    Letters to the Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 Feb. 2026
  • Not to sound lazy, but there are some pretty neat inventions that have come along to make this process much easier.
    Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Experts believe the crown’s flexible mount was strained when thieves wrenched it from its display through a narrow slot cut by the angle grinder, according to a report by the Louvre.
    Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
  • The passenger version supports flexible layouts.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Next, carefully remove the bowl from the microwave and use a microfiber cloth to wipe away all the loosened grime.
    Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Auroras are typically confined to high latitudes near Earth's north and south magnetic poles, making sightings in the Southern Hemisphere this far north of Antarctica very rare.
    Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 4 Feb. 2026
  • Either way, the result is a higher chance for Arctic air to reach mid-latitudes, though a split usually signals a more persistent winter pattern.
    Brandi D. Addison, Cincinnati Enquirer, 3 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The Fed loosened anyway — a rational response to the severe downturn — and inflation remained low for years to come.
    Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2026
  • The Bucks won’t be, either, and that loosens trade restrictions on deals involving those two teams.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • When a newspaper is felled by careless or malicious owners, millions of people are hurt, in big ways and small ways and ways that are impossible to measure.
    Alexandra Petri, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026
  • Karlsson was on the wrong side of the puck all evening, made careless decisions and generally played a thoughtless game.
    Josh Yohe, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • Instead of blindly following your partner into a defensive crouch, lead them back to an open, relaxed posture that builds true connection.
    Matt Abrahams, CNBC, 9 Feb. 2026
  • The crisp side stripes add a chic, athletic edge—wear the full set with retro sneakers, or split it up with the pants styled with a cardigan and the top paired with relaxed denim.
    Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
  • And in the corner of Hadder’s old office, unguarded and unaccounted for, was a loose pile of guns.
    Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 7 Feb. 2026
  • Across the central mountains and southern ranges, loose dry avalanches are becoming a more widespread problem.
    Callie Zanandrie, CBS News, 6 Feb. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Slack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slack. Accessed 11 Feb. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on slack

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!