slack

1 failing to give proper care and attention a building contractor known mainly for his firm's slack workmanship and slipshod construction Synonyms careless, derelict, disregardful, lax, lazy, neglectful, neglecting, remiss, negligentRelated 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 slack supervision on the project Synonyms flexible, lax, loose, relaxed, easygoing, 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 left the ropes slack Synonyms insecure, lax, loosened, relaxed, loose, 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

1 an allowable margin of freedom or variation our boss doesn't cut us any slack when it comes to being back from lunch on time Synonyms latitude, leeway, space, wiggle room Related Words license (or licence), rein, swing

2 the extent to which something hangs or dips below a straight line take up the slack of a rope Synonyms droop, hang, sag, slacknessRelated Words floppiness, laxity, laxness, limpness, loosenessNear Antonyms rigidity, rigidness, tautness, tenseness, tension, tightness

3 slacks pl  an outer garment covering each leg separately from waist to ankle she prefers wearing slacks instead of a dress Synonyms breeches, britches, pantaloons, slacks, trousersRelated Words baggies, bell-bottoms, blue jeans, cargo pants, cords, corduroys, denims, jeans; hose, legging (or leggin), sweatpants; pants suit, pantsuit; bloomers, knee breeches, knickerbockers

to make less taut the skipper ordered the crew to slack off the sheets on the mainsail Synonyms ease, loosen, relax, slackenRelated Words detach, free, unbind, undo, unfasten, untieNear Antonyms attach, bind, fasten, tie; constrain, restrainAntonyms strain, stretch, tense, tension, tighten