as in loosening
to make less taut
the skipper ordered the crew to slack off the sheets on the mainsail
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of slacking
Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 14 Dec. 2025
Verb
Not that the segment was slacking—far from it.
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 14 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slacking
Verb
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That’s when something tightened, a brief, instinctual clam-closing and then loosening again just as fast.—
Dawn Lerman,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2026
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Lawmakers will debate bills related to loosening gun regulations at colleges in at least eight states this year, including Florida, Louisiana, New Hampshire, South Carolina, South Dakota, Utah, Virginia and Wyoming.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The artists will also have indoor and outdoor lounging areas for them, their family, friends and guests.—
Joseph Hernandez
March 13,
Kansas City Star,
13 Mar. 2026
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Made from entirely high-quality foam, this may be more decorative than a comfortable couch for lounging, but most certainly gives your guests a stylish place to sit for cocktail hour.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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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
Noun
-
There is no penalty associated with unattended idling in state statute, however, individual municipalities have ordinances in place with fines for the action.—
Anna Kleiber,
jsonline.com,
18 Nov. 2025
Noun
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President Grant Day doesn’t need to be an official or legal holiday where Illinois state employees get the day off, like Lincoln’s Birthday.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
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Louisiana is the only state where Mardi Gras is a legal holiday.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
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True to the hotel’s philosophy of repose and rest, the basket invites you to linger longer in your rooms, with enough to keep munching on through the morning.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
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The catcher played in the first two games of the series, and an off day on Sunday would have given him two straight days of rest early in a grueling season.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Slacking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slacking. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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