lax

1 failing to give proper care and attention lax parents who let their kids stay out as late as they want Synonyms careless, derelict, disregardful, negligent, lazy, neglectful, neglecting, remiss, slackRelated Words heedless, incautious, irresponsible, reckless, wild; unguarded, unwary; forgetful; disregardful, disregarding, inattentive, oblivious, thoughtless, unheeding, unmindful, unthinking; apathetic, disinterested, indifferent, unconcerned, uninterested; delinquent; looseNear Antonyms meticulous, painstaking, punctilious; cautious, chary, circumspect, gingerly, guarded; alert, heedful, heeding, mindful, observant, regardful, regarding, vigilant, wary, watchful; foresighted, forethoughtful, provident, responsible; thinking, thoughtful; concerned, interestedAntonyms attentive, careful, conscientious, nonnegligent

2 not bound by rigid standards the guidelines for the essay contest were fairly lax, permitting a wide variety of topics Synonyms flexible, easygoing, loose, relaxed, slack, unrestrained, unrestrictedRelated Words careless, derelict, heedless, irresponsible, lazy, neglectful, negligent, remiss, slipshod, sloppy, sloven, slovenly, unfussyNear Antonyms constrained, restrained, restricted, tight; careful, conscientious, exact, fussy, meticulous, painstaking, punctilious, scrupulous; implacable, inflexibleAntonyms hard, harsh, rigid, rigorous, severe, stern, strict

3 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 insecure, loose, loosened, relaxed, slack, slackened, unsecuredRelated Words detached, free, unattached, unbound, undone, unfastened, untied; baggy, blousy, saggyNear Antonyms constrained, restrained; attached, bound, fastened, tied; fast, firm, jammed, snug, stuck, wedgedAntonyms taut, tense, tight