slack 1 of 3

Definition of slacknext
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slack

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noun

1
as in latitude
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 & Similar Words

2
as in slackness
the extent to which something hangs or dips below a straight line take up the slack of a rope

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

3

slack

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verb

as in to loosen
to make less taut the skipper ordered the crew to slack off the sheets on the mainsail

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word slack different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of slack are lax, neglectful, negligent, and remiss. While all these words mean "culpably careless or indicative of such carelessness," slack implies want of due or necessary diligence or care.

slack workmanship

When might lax be a better fit than slack?

While in some cases nearly identical to slack, lax implies a blameworthy lack of strictness, severity, or precision.

a reporter lax about accurate quotation

When could neglectful be used to replace slack?

The words neglectful and slack can be used in similar contexts, but neglectful adds a more disapproving implication of laziness or deliberate inattention.

a society callously neglectful of the poor

In what contexts can negligent take the place of slack?

While the synonyms negligent and slack are close in meaning, negligent implies inattention to one's duty or business.

negligent about writing a note of thanks

When is it sensible to use remiss instead of slack?

The synonyms remiss and slack are sometimes interchangeable, but remiss implies blameworthy carelessness shown in slackness, forgetfulness, or neglect.

had been remiss in their familial duties

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 slack
Adjective
That’s why trains have a trick called slack action. Rhett Allain, Wired News, 10 Mar. 2026 But what happens when the detox is over and the chorus of text pings, slack dings and social media notifications swells throughout the rest of the year? Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Noun
The burly bureaucrat in dark slacks and a navy sweater has a scruffy beard and the frazzled look of an anonymous factotum thrust into the limelight. Joshua Hunt, Vanity Fair, 17 June 2026 What changes the math is delinquency — the point at which past-due debt stops being a line item and starts triggering levies, forced withdrawals and credit damage at a time when there's little slack to absorb it. Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 17 June 2026
Verb
Nitibhon, a Thai supermodel, plays her tycoon as comically drab, keeping her gaunt cheeks slack to emphasize her character’s hollowness. Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026 Does no slack in sales volume, despite higher DRAM prices, hurt the case? Jim Cramer, CNBC, 25 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for slack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slack
Adjective
  • But Richmond’s James River stretch also offers calm stretches of flat water near the city center that are ideal for a lazy river tube run.
    Terry Ward, Travel + Leisure, 17 June 2026
  • Then the release, the arrival, the return to self, and a lazy, funny sort of shyness.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 June 2026
Adjective
  • Reducing the stiffness of the artery Help prevent calcium buildup in the arteries, which can make the arteries harder and less flexible.
    Emmanuella Ogbonna, Health, 18 June 2026
  • Companies around the region are giving employees flexible hours after their respective national teams play.
    Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 18 June 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
  • 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
Noun
  • Assembly Bill 46, which cleared the Senate late last month, gives judges wider latitude to deny diversion petitions and limits the types of crimes for which a defendant can be granted diversion.
    James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 18 June 2026
  • Verne picked a spot near Fort Myers, on the opposite side of the Floridian peninsula to Cape Canaveral, but at a very similar latitude.
    Neil Oseman, Space.com, 14 June 2026
Noun
  • Sections lower in the nozzle that were not cooled began to overheat and sag while molten plastic dripped from the engine outlet.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 25 May 2026
  • That slowdown could also reduce revenue from the city’s hotel tax as travel demand sags.
    Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 20 May 2026
Verb
  • In another gun rights case, the justices may loosen a federal law aimed at keeping firearms out of the hands of dangerous or irresponsible people.
    Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 17 June 2026
  • This will loosen the soil a bit and make sure your plants are well hydrated.
    Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 16 June 2026
Adjective
  • Anyone old enough to vote is old enough to remember that California hasn’t always been so careless with its elections.
    Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 17 June 2026
  • That charming and shaggy approach is fitting for such a campy and irreverent comedy, ultimately substituting polish for an equal mixture of artistic grit and careless joy.
    Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 12 June 2026
Adjective
  • The relaxed fit offers plenty of comfort while the print keeps things visually interesting.
    Mia McManus, PEOPLE, 22 June 2026
  • Her hosting playbook still sets the tone, even as a new generation reshapes it for a more relaxed era.
    Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 22 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Slack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slack. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.

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