as in softening
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in loosening
to make less taut
you'll need to slacken the rope a bit to get it free of that post
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in slowing
to cause to move or proceed at a less rapid pace
drivers need to slacken their speed as they approach the sharp curve
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of slackening
Literary Hub,
15 May 2026
Hammers tapped slackening fibers and instead of the pleasant overtones of a major scale, a nauseating cacophony swelled from the instrument’s wooden belly.
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Sasha Geffen,
Pitchfork,
21 Jan. 2026
There was still a risk of more flash flooding and mudslides Friday despite slackening rain around Los Angeles, the National Weather Service warned.
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Ty Oneil,
Arkansas Online,
27 Dec. 2025
Verb
Another factor was the slackening appeal of industrial companies, which had long absorbed the greatest number of young graduates.
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Literary Hub,
15 May 2026
Hammers tapped slackening fibers and instead of the pleasant overtones of a major scale, a nauseating cacophony swelled from the instrument’s wooden belly.
—
Sasha Geffen,
Pitchfork,
21 Jan. 2026
There was still a risk of more flash flooding and mudslides Friday despite slackening rain around Los Angeles, the National Weather Service warned.
—
Ty Oneil,
Arkansas Online,
27 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slackening
Adjective
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Interest rates remain relatively high, and real yields have risen in recent years, giving investors an attractive alternative to non-yielding assets like silver.
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The prospect of higher interest rates as a result of the war could boost government bonds among investors, at the expense of non-yielding precious metals, market strategists told CNBC recently.
Verb
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Cambridge recently joined Boston and other Massachusetts communities in temporarily loosening its liquor laws for the World Cup and other summer celebrations.
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This is achieved through loosening regulations to encourage housing construction and limiting Wall Street investors' ability to buy homes that could go to families instead.
Verb
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The Fed cut rates three times late last year, responding to concerns about a slowing labor market.
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While the luxury car market sees slowing sales (though revenues are on the rise), Genesis stands out with sales up 10% in 2025 and trending higher for 2026.
Verb
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The braking system follows the same philosophy, with a dual-piston floating caliper and disc up front, and a 220-mm rear disc paired with a single-piston caliper.
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And Brembo, an Italian company specializing in braking systems which has had a partnership with Ferrari for more than 50 years, has responded.
Cite this Entry
“Slackening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slackening. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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