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slack

/slæk/noun, verb, adjective1 syllable

Slack means: a noticeable deterioration in performance or quality.

Synonyms for slack29

noun, as in a noticeable deterioration in performance or quality

slump, drop-off, falloff, falling off

noun, as in a soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot

mire, quagmire, quag, morass

noun, as in a stretch of water without current or movement

slack water

noun, as in the quality of being loose (not taut)

slackness

verb, as in become slow or slower

slow, slow down, slow up, slacken

verb, as in become less in amount or intensity

abate, let up, slack off, die away

verb, as in make less active or fast

slacken, slack up, relax

verb, as in make less active or intense

slake, abate

verb, as in cause to heat and crumble by treatment with water

slake

adjective, as in not tense or taut

adjective, as in lacking in rigor or strictness

adjective, as in flowing with little speed as e.g. at the turning of the tide

also used for slack

slough, culm, moderate, easy

Includes material from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.

What does slack mean?17

noun

1

a noticeable deterioration in performance or quality“the team went into a slump”

2

a soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot

3

a stretch of water without current or movement“suddenly they were in a slack and the water was motionless”

4

the quality of being loose (not taut)“he hadn't counted on the slackness of the rope”

5

dust consisting of a mixture of small coal fragments and coal dust and dirt that sifts out when coal is passed over a sieve

6

a cord or rope or cable that is hanging loosely“he took up the slack”

verb

1

become slow or slower“Production slowed”

2

become less in amount or intensity“The storm abated”

3

make less active or fast“He slackened his pace as he got tired”

4

make less active or intense

5

cause to heat and crumble by treatment with water“slack lime”

6

avoid responsibilities and work, be idle

7

be inattentive to, or neglect“He slacks his attention”

8

release tension on“slack the rope”

adjective

1

not tense or taut“the old man's skin hung loose and grey”

2

lacking in rigor or strictness“such lax and slipshod ways are no longer acceptable”

3

flowing with little speed as e.g. at the turning of the tide“slack water”

Definitions from the Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

What rhymes with slack?32

Show 40 near rhymes

All 32 rhymes for slack, grouped by syllable

Slack in a sentence

  • Because my nephew was still young, they cut him some slack.CK
  • If you slack instead of typing, you'll never finish the book.Lepotdeterre
  • We tend to slack off after many hours of hard work.unknown
  • You should cut your kid some more slack.DJ_Saidez
  • Please only use the company Slack for work purposes.rul
  • Cut him some slack, John. It's his first day on the job.darinmex
  • It is important that no one is allowed to slack off on their assigned work.blay_paul
  • You should cut your kid some slack.CK

Sentences from Tatoeba, CC BY 2.0 FR, credited to their authors.

Forms of slack

as a noun

plural
slacks

as a verb

past tense
slacked
present participle
slacking
third-person singular
slacks
past participle
slacked

as a adjective

comparative
slacker
superlative
slackest