to slacken

Examples

• All

• Joe and Sarah slackened their pace a little.

  Fiction book (1993)

• Morgan slackened the reins and gave Boots his head.

  Fiction book (1994)

• So I presume I need to slacken off that spring a bit.

• She saw the fear in my eyes and slackened the pressure of her fingers on my chin.

  Fiction book (1998)

• Slackened by sleep, his upturned face was oddly childlike, almost touching.

  Fiction book (1998)

• The old man's face relaxed, its muscles slackening into a beatific grin, as if he'd only just discovered that he'd left something far behind and was amused.

  Fiction book (2001)

• The teacher instructed the students to slacken their grip on the ropes during the exercise.

• After the race, the athlete decided to slacken his shoelaces for comfort.

• Remember to slacken the straps on your backpack when you take it off.

Synonyms

L

to loosen

vsto slacken

88 1.0

Make something less tight so it can move or open

applies more generally beyond small fastenings to many tense things

R

to relax

vsto slacken

78 1.0

To make or become less tight

is used more generally, not limited to physical cases

E

to ease up

vsto slacken

57 3.7

To make something less strong or strict

refers more narrowly to lowering material tightness rather than general intensity

L

to loosen up

vsto slacken

• Informal

31 3.4

To relax and become less nervous or tense

focuses on making things physically less tight rather than easing feelings

L

to loose

vsto slacken

30 3.0

To let something go free or make it less tight

focuses on reducing tightness rather than suggesting full release or freedom

S

to slack

vsto slacken

2 4.1

To make a rope, cable, or line less tight

is used for reducing tightness more generally, not only for ropes

R

to remit

vsto slacken

• Specialized

1 7.3

To become less strong or less tight

refers specifically to making something physically less tight or firm

U

to unloose

vsto slacken

• Archaic

1 7.0

To make something less tight or set something free

focuses on reducing tightness rather than implying full release or freedom

U

to unloosen

vsto slacken

• Archaic

7.2

To make something less tight or free it from something holding it

is narrower, focusing on physical reduction of tightness rather than freeing rules

U

to unbend

vsto slacken

6.0

Make a rope or line less tight

focuses on reducing tightness rather than altering shape or posture

U

to uncramp

vsto slacken

5.6

To free a part of your body from a tight painful position

is used for reducing tightness generally, not only for cramped positions

R

to relieve muscle tension

vsto slacken

3.7

To make muscles feel less tight or stiff

applies to physical objects broadly, not only to the body

Antonyms

T

to tighten

145 1.5

To make something hold firmly, like a bolt or belt

Phrasal Verbs

S

to slacken off

3.9

To become less strong or active

How Tight

to tighten

145 1.5

to slacken

1 5.5

to loosen

88 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology