slacken

Synonym Chooser

How is the word slacken distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of slacken are delay, detain, retard, and slow. While all these words mean "to cause to be late or behind in movement or progress," slacken suggests an easing up or relaxing of power or effort.

on hot days runners slacken their pace

Where would delay be a reasonable alternative to slacken?

Although the words delay and slacken have much in common, delay implies a holding back, usually by interference, from completion or arrival.

bad weather delayed our arrival

When is it sensible to use detain instead of slacken?

While in some cases nearly identical to slacken, detain implies a holding back beyond a reasonable or appointed time.

unexpected business had detained her

When would retard be a good substitute for slacken?

The synonyms retard and slacken are sometimes interchangeable, but retard suggests reduction of speed without actual stopping.

language barriers retarded their progress

How do slow and slacken relate to one another?

Both slow and slacken also imply a reduction of speed, slow often suggesting deliberate intention.

medication slowed the patient's heart rate

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 slacken But this attempt to freeze Ukraine into submission has failed, and as spring arrives the pressure on power generation will slacken. David Hambling, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025 After analyzing participants’ DNA with epigenetic clocks, Bischoff-Ferrari and her colleagues found that omega-3 fatty acids actually slackened aging at the biological level, regardless of participants’ body mass index (BMI), age, and gender. Brian Mastroianni, Health, 12 Mar. 2025 Quality stocks have slackened even as speculative ones have buckled. Michael Santoli, CNBC, 8 Mar. 2025 The jokes of both the verbal and visual variety flow fast and furious, the pace never slackening throughout the feature-length running time. Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 3 Sep. 2019 See All Example Sentences for slacken
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slacken
Verb
  • Artificial implants naturally wear out or loosen with time and activity.
    Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 27 June 2025
  • The challenges were steep enough that Georgia has decided to loosen its work verification protocols from monthly to once a year.
    ProPublica, ProPublica, 26 June 2025
Verb
  • Low-hanging clouds also prevented helicopters from reaching the area, slowing down efforts.
    Michelle Krupa, CNN Money, 7 July 2025
  • Another easy way to naturally slow inflammation from bites is ice.
    Sarah Y. Wu, Glamour, 7 July 2025
Verb
  • Verstappen braked hard on the wet track, but went past Piastri, who was leading the race.
    Saajan Jogia, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 July 2025
  • The braking force of these cars is just incredible, way more than acceleration.
    Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 1 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Slacken.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slacken. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.

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