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
However, the efficacy of HIV prevention and treatment from ART has likely contributed to more lax condom use and increasing STI rates, reinforcing the need for longer-lasting solutions for other STIs.
—
Kenneth H. Mayer, STAT, 27 Feb. 2026
In October, following the bankruptcies of Tricolor and First Brands, Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan, pointed to signs that corporate lending practices had grown too lax over the past decade .
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2026
Data center developers are increasingly choosing Texas because of the easy and lax regulatory access to water and power as well as Texas counties' inability to regulate zoning requests.
—Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 24 Feb. 2026
That shopping cart law went into effect in August, but so far enforcement by county officials and compliance among retailers has been lax, according to County Council Member Wanika Fisher, who proposed the bill.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 22 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lax
Kenneth H. Mayer, STAT, 27 Feb. 2026
In October, following the bankruptcies of Tricolor and First Brands, Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorgan, pointed to signs that corporate lending practices had grown too lax over the past decade .
—Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2026
Data center developers are increasingly choosing Texas because of the easy and lax regulatory access to water and power as well as Texas counties' inability to regulate zoning requests.
—Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 24 Feb. 2026
That shopping cart law went into effect in August, but so far enforcement by county officials and compliance among retailers has been lax, according to County Council Member Wanika Fisher, who proposed the bill.
—N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 22 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lax
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lax
Adjective
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The game has been played at A&M's tempo, causing the Gaels to make careless mistakes.—
Tony Catalina,
Austin American Statesman,
19 Mar. 2026
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Democrats accuse the Justice Department of withholding too many files and making careless redactions that exposed intimate details about victims.—
Alanna Durkin Richer,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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That decision alone saved the family a full day of transit and set the tone for a relaxed, seamless experience.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Mar. 2026
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The shoes have a slim silhouette that’s easy to pair with everything from relaxed denim to airy skirts.—
Kyra Surgent,
InStyle,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
For now, though, Detroit’s automakers are leaning into the lucre that comes from selling millions of fossil-fuel vehicles in a rare moment of loosened regulation.—
Bloomberg,
Oc Register,
24 Feb. 2026
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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
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Sid lives in the town of Matakana with her single, sometimes-neglectful alcoholic father Leo (Noah Taylor), who wanted to be a painter but now mows the lawns of rich neighbors and visiting Auckland rich boys occupying the beachfront mansions nearby in Omaha.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
15 Mar. 2026
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Dysfunctional families can look many different ways, but typically are controlling, secretive, neglectful, and uncommunicative.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
15 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The overall goal is to create a more responsive and flexible defensive shield around the carrier.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Mar. 2026
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In 2025, after four years of work, the process yielded a flexible house that now serves both as a hospitality space for Scribe Winery events and a guest retreat for extended family.—
Leonora Epstein,
Architectural Digest,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Joshua’s Carson Kilcoin tried to corral a bounding loose ball in the South Hills’ goalkeeper box, but was only able to dribble it forward.—
Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Mar. 2026
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Those include Mexico's Sinaloa cartel as well as the Cartel de los soles, or Cartel of the Suns, a term used to describe a loose network of corrupt, high-ranking military officers in neighboring Venezuela.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The Black Crowes were famously a lazy-rehearsal band.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
19 Mar. 2026
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Fold blankets and fluff pillows so your space is primed for a lazy Saturday morning.—
Patricia Shannon,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Then, just to flub any chance for enjoying some dumb fun with a skilled cast hamming it up, the sloppy story grinds the all-too-predictable, all-too-lame whodunit to a halt, as well.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
18 Mar. 2026
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In other cases, victims have slammed the department for sloppy redactions that revealed their sensitive information.—
Alanna Durkin Richer,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lax.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lax. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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