1
as in careless
failing to give proper care and attention
lax parents who let their kids stay out as late as they want
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in relaxed
not bound by rigid standards
the guidelines for the essay contest were fairly lax, permitting a wide variety of topics
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in loosened
not tightly fastened, tied, or stretched
the sheet on the foresail was lax, and so the sail was flapping wildly in the stiff wind
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lax
Oklahoma’s lax civil asset forfeiture laws have drawn scrutiny for decades.
—
Keaton Ross, Oklahoma Watch, 23 Jan. 2026
The authors of that ban, Rabbi Shaul Sitehon Dabah of the Syrian-Aleppo tradition and the Ashkenazi Rabbi Aharon Goldman, emerged in response to a proliferation of lax or irregular conversions, particularly in rural areas among Jewish immigrants.
—Juan Melamed, Sun Sentinel, 21 Jan. 2026
Sarkozy’s prison sentence may also reflect a toughening of French attitudes toward corruption, which were once relatively lax.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 17 Jan. 2026
Multiple bills filed this legislative session aim to impose the Indiana General Assembly's will on local governments like Indianapolis that Republicans perceive to be too lax on crime.
—Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lax
Keaton Ross, Oklahoma Watch, 23 Jan. 2026
The authors of that ban, Rabbi Shaul Sitehon Dabah of the Syrian-Aleppo tradition and the Ashkenazi Rabbi Aharon Goldman, emerged in response to a proliferation of lax or irregular conversions, particularly in rural areas among Jewish immigrants.
—Juan Melamed, Sun Sentinel, 21 Jan. 2026
Sarkozy’s prison sentence may also reflect a toughening of French attitudes toward corruption, which were once relatively lax.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 17 Jan. 2026
Multiple bills filed this legislative session aim to impose the Indiana General Assembly's will on local governments like Indianapolis that Republicans perceive to be too lax on crime.
—Jordan Smith, IndyStar, 14 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lax
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lax
Adjective
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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
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The knit has stretch, but sizing can vary — shoppers suggest going up a size for a relaxed, oversized fit that feels intentional and elevated.—
Taylor Jean Stephan,
PEOPLE,
26 Jan. 2026
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Linen brings natural cooling performance and a relaxed, refined texture.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
26 Jan. 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
Adjective
-
There’s an absent father and a clueless, neglectful mother but the five Gilbert children — Lydia, Hugo, Annabel, Jeremy and Rosalind — are essentially raising themselves in an English country house of secret passages and worrying infestations.—
Tribune News Service,
Baltimore Sun,
23 Jan. 2026
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There’s an absent father and a clueless, neglectful mother but the five Gilbert children — Lydia, Hugo, Annabel, Jeremy and Rosalind — are essentially raising themselves in an English country house of secret passages and worrying infestations.—
Chris Hewitt,
Boston Herald,
22 Jan. 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
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The passenger version supports flexible layouts.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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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
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Across the central mountains and southern ranges, loose dry avalanches are becoming a more widespread problem.—
Callie Zanandrie,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Fighting inflation by raising interest rates is lazy policy.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 Feb. 2026
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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
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At times, Epstein characterized the billionaire’s office as sloppy and amateurish, exposing him to taxes and reputational risks while making sensitive payments.—
Tom Schoenberg,
Fortune,
5 Feb. 2026
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The Heat also ran into its own sloppy play, committing 19 turnovers.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lax.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lax. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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