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
Relevance
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
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 lax
The risks of cutting corners — whether through lax vetting, poor oversight, or underestimating jurisdictional challenges — can far outweigh the financial savings.
—
Emil Sayegh, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
This was Madness, where a lax effort against a plucky underdog meant the death of a season.
—Luca Evans, The Denver Post, 20 Mar. 2025
While group dynamics may allow for a more lax and easy approach to friendship, the one-on-one dynamic means putting in the extra effort to be reliable, have regular check-ins and provide proper emotional support.
—Alicia Lansom, refinery29.com, 19 Mar. 2025
Iran’s regime has employed sophisticated surveillance operations to lure prominent Iranian dissidents to countries with lax security to kidnap them and transport the dissidents to Iran.
—Benjamin Weinthal, Fox News, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lax
Emil Sayegh, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025
This was Madness, where a lax effort against a plucky underdog meant the death of a season.
—Luca Evans, The Denver Post, 20 Mar. 2025
While group dynamics may allow for a more lax and easy approach to friendship, the one-on-one dynamic means putting in the extra effort to be reliable, have regular check-ins and provide proper emotional support.
—Alicia Lansom, refinery29.com, 19 Mar. 2025
Iran’s regime has employed sophisticated surveillance operations to lure prominent Iranian dissidents to countries with lax security to kidnap them and transport the dissidents to Iran.
—Benjamin Weinthal, Fox News, 17 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lax
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lax
Adjective
-
Sauter pleaded no contest to several charges, including vehicular homicide and careless operation of a motor vehicle without a valid driver’s license resulting in death.—
Frank Fernandez,
USA Today,
17 Apr. 2025
-
McIlroy wasted a superb opening round with two careless double bogeys leaving him seven shots behind.—
Doug Ferguson,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Everyday Ladylike Light-wash barrel jeans from Mother Denim add a relaxed edge to a ladylike sweater set and kitten heels, making the whole look feel cool, not fussy.—
Christina Holevas,
Vogue,
18 Apr. 2025
-
The war isn’t over, but at this writing, mandates have tightened (not relaxed) across major companies like Amazon, AT&T and Boeing.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Stress Factors There a few factors, mostly neglectful, that can cause stress on your peace lily.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
25 Mar. 2025
-
The rise of institutional investment in housing has also made people more vulnerable to eviction and to neglectful or abusive landlord management practices.—
Made by History,
TIME,
25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Want a new career that’s higher-paying, more flexible or fulfilling?—
Kamaron McNair,
CNBC,
18 Apr. 2025
-
The device uses microneedles and flexible wiring to capture neural signals just beneath the skin, enhancing signal quality while minimizing invasiveness.—
Charlie Fink,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Iconic examples abound, from Yves Saint Laurent’s Le Smoking to Armani’s loose takes that made trousers for women permissible evening attire.—
Naomi Rougeau,
Robb Report,
25 Apr. 2025
-
So, to shed light on this process, Li Hsia Yeo, a planetary scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland, led a lab experiment observing the effects of simulated solar wind on two samples of loose regolith brought to Earth by the Apollo 17 mission.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
25 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The natural hot springs and spa are favorites among the more mature crowd, and the indoor pool, two-acre water park (complete with waterslide and a lazy river), and lawn games appeal to younger generations.—
Lydia Mansel,
Southern Living,
18 Apr. 2025
-
And, being just 20 minutes from Athens’ city center, the hotel is perfectly positioned for both lazy beach days and quick jaunts to the Acropolis.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The Trump administration has been accused of being sloppy in selecting its targets for arrest and deportation, with critics accusing them of relying on tattoo symbols and clothing to make their allegations of gang affiliation.—
Jonathan Easley,
The Hill,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Given publicly available information and pages of corrections Tyler provided to the reporters, the editorial board’s commentary is at best sloppy.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
My actual dining companion, dressed in her nonprofit workwear, was slack jawed at the precision of the seasoning.—
Caroline Hatchett,
Robb Report,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Descending is still important, especially in modern cross country, so XC bikes often have dropper posts and slack head angles, but the geometry is still less confidence-inspiring than trail bikes.—
Seb Stott,
Outside Online,
27 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lax.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lax. Accessed 2 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share