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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lax
And just like every year, many across Indiana are celebrating early — but is that legal?
Restrictions on Indiana's fireworks, to put it bluntly, are more lax than a pyromaniac in a room full of sparklers.
—
John Tufts, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
Textile manufacturers, often operating on razor-thin margins, can be slow to adopt new methods - especially in regions where environmental protocols are lax and synthetic dyes remain cheap and abundant.
—Maeve Campbell, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
Just hours after his Inauguration this year, Trump signed an executive order instructing government agencies to analyze which countries may have had lax or insufficient vetting policies.
—Ian Crouch, New Yorker, 5 June 2025
With Texas regulation around AVs relatively lax, some AV makers worry what impact a collision by one of the players in the state could mean for the entire industry.
—Jennifer Elias, CNBC, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for lax
John Tufts, IndyStar, 2 July 2025
Textile manufacturers, often operating on razor-thin margins, can be slow to adopt new methods - especially in regions where environmental protocols are lax and synthetic dyes remain cheap and abundant.
—Maeve Campbell, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
Just hours after his Inauguration this year, Trump signed an executive order instructing government agencies to analyze which countries may have had lax or insufficient vetting policies.
—Ian Crouch, New Yorker, 5 June 2025
With Texas regulation around AVs relatively lax, some AV makers worry what impact a collision by one of the players in the state could mean for the entire industry.
—Jennifer Elias, CNBC, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for lax
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lax
Adjective
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Proof Carefully To Show Professionalism And Attention To Detail What gets my negative attention are résumés with careless errors—typos, missing words and inconsistent formatting.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
-
Social media erupted in fear, and disgust, or simply threw shame his way for being careless.—
Armon Sadler,
VIBE.com,
8 July 2025
Adjective
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This loose-fitting garment, made from 100 percent cotton, not only allows air to pass through the material, but also in and out of the relaxed neck, armholes, and hem.—
Danielle Calma,
Travel + Leisure,
13 July 2025
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Their light and fresh tones evoke thoughts of sunny days and relaxed, vacation-ready style.—
René Chávez Esparza,
Glamour,
13 July 2025
Adjective
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Hinchliffe Stadium originally opened in 1932 and hosted the Negro Leagues’ New York Black Yankees and the American Soccer League’s New Jersey Eagles in the late 1980s before shuttering in 1996 after many neglectful years without maintenance and upkeep.—
Jeff Rueter,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
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Raised by a neglectful alcoholic father in Buffalo, N.Y.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
People.com,
19 June 2025
Adjective
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They are entitled to health, dental, vision, life and long-term care insurance, along with retirement plans and flexible spending accounts.—
Dan Gooding,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 July 2025
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Paramount+ offers two flexible plans to fit your streaming needs.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
11 July 2025
Adjective
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The drone with its live, loose grenade needs to be handled by an explosive ordnance disposal tech.—
David Hambling,
Forbes.com,
16 July 2025
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The music of this six-piece L.A. County band feels loose on purpose, and it’s held together by something intuitive, a shared language that doesn’t need translating.—
Leah Lu,
Rolling Stone,
15 July 2025
Adjective
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By the end of the summer, there will be another pool with a zero-entry layout, lazy river, and seven private cabanas.—
Lisa Cericola,
Southern Living,
11 July 2025
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The cellphone chimed, a surprise on a hot, lazy Sunday evening when few emails announce themselves.—
Scott Craven,
AZCentral.com,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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Some of it is good, but a lot of it is sloppy, outdated or full of vulnerabilities.—
Jimmie Lee,
Forbes.com,
10 July 2025
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Hein was sloppy, lazy and showed a lack of impartiality in dealing with him, Hicks said in his filing.—
Patricia Gallagher Newberry,
The Enquirer,
2 July 2025
Adjective
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Your arms should be down by your sides, and the towel should be slack and without tension.—
Alyssa Ages,
Outside Online,
28 June 2025
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Whenever the topic of his childhood comes up, or even something random about the war, his face goes slack and a mist seems to pass over his eyes.—
Lizz Schumer,
People.com,
24 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lax.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lax. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.
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