slack 1 of 3

adjective

ˈslak How to pronounce slack (audio)
Definition of slacknext
1
as in lazy
failing to give proper care and attention a building contractor known mainly for his firm's slack workmanship and slipshod construction

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2
as in flexible
not bound by rigid standards slack supervision on the project

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3
as in loosened
not tightly fastened, tied, or stretched left the ropes slack

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slack

2 of 3

noun

1
as in latitude
an allowable margin of freedom or variation our boss doesn't cut us any slack when it comes to being back from lunch on time

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2
as in slackness
the extent to which something hangs or dips below a straight line take up the slack of a rope

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3
as in pants
slacks plural an outer garment covering each leg separately from waist to ankle she prefers wearing slacks instead of a dress

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slack

3 of 3

verb

as in to loosen
to make less taut the skipper ordered the crew to slack off the sheets on the mainsail

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word slack different from other adjectives like it?

Some common synonyms of slack are lax, neglectful, negligent, and remiss. While all these words mean "culpably careless or indicative of such carelessness," slack implies want of due or necessary diligence or care.

slack workmanship

When might lax be a better fit than slack?

While in some cases nearly identical to slack, lax implies a blameworthy lack of strictness, severity, or precision.

a reporter lax about accurate quotation

When could neglectful be used to replace slack?

The words neglectful and slack can be used in similar contexts, but neglectful adds a more disapproving implication of laziness or deliberate inattention.

a society callously neglectful of the poor

In what contexts can negligent take the place of slack?

While the synonyms negligent and slack are close in meaning, negligent implies inattention to one's duty or business.

negligent about writing a note of thanks

When is it sensible to use remiss instead of slack?

The synonyms remiss and slack are sometimes interchangeable, but remiss implies blameworthy carelessness shown in slackness, forgetfulness, or neglect.

had been remiss in their familial duties

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 slack
Adjective
The worst transition is from a frictionless sprint into slack time or shallow administrative work. — Yaniv Golan, Forbes.com, 16 Mar. 2026 But what happens when the detox is over and the chorus of text pings, slack dings and social media notifications swells throughout the rest of the year? — Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 13 Jan. 2026
Noun
His assistant coaches, mostly a group of his former Granada Hills players, have to pick up the slack sometimes with the subsequent practices early in the following week. — Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026 Modern management has spent 50 years waging a largely successful war on slack. — Dr. Aditya Vikram Kashyap, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Verb
Redneck points out that it's heightened the XL's front wall by 11 inches (28 cm) as compared to older Freedom models, slacking up the angle of the roof to adjust for it. — New Atlas, 13 Apr. 2026 And under Chay Yew’s somewhat slack direction, Chinese Republicans never really finds its stride. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for slack
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slack
  1. lazy
  2. flexible
  3. loosened
  4. latitude
  5. slackness
  6. loosen
  7. careless
  8. relaxed
Adjective
  • The resort has its own waterpark with a freeform swimming pool, baby pool, two-story slide, and lazy river.
    — Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The other irony is that many of the characters on these very shows would hate this kind of lazy legacy thinking and would balk at it.
    — Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of lazy
Adjective
  • Thickness, though, is not always an option—optical films have to stay clear, protective layers on aircraft have to stay light and flexible, and the barriers on outdoor electronics are thin by design.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Soft loafers are also resonating for their lightweight, flexible construction and polished look without sacrificing comfort.
    — Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of flexible
Adjective
  • The loosened restrictions will not empower Washington to pursue investment and economic cooperation with al Sharaa’s government, which could transform the impoverished country.
    — Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Scrub the metal grid with a dish sponge or brush to remove loosened debris.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of loosened
Noun
  • The creators pitched that show all over town, but the only offer came from a single executive at HBO Max who had the vision, the institutional latitude, and the creative conviction to champion an unconventional project.
    — Mike Schur, HollywoodReporter, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Observed from lower latitudes, the orbital parade of satellites would peak in brightness at sunrise and sunset; toward the poles, the constellations would be bright and visible for most of the night during winter and the equinoxes.
    — Arielle Frommer, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of latitude
Noun
  • In the games so far, there have been quite a few fumbles and an apparent slackness of mind and limb.
    — E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 24 June 2026
Definition of slackness
Verb
  • Stein attributed the drop to a lengthening backlog for accounts receivable as Nvidia has loosened payment terms for its many backstopping deals.
    — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Vinegar and baking soda effectively loosen and remove stubborn grease.
    — Abby Monteil, The Spruce, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of loosen
Adjective
  • His belief is not that relationships should become less professional or emotionally careless.
    — K.H. Koehler, Freep.com, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Two other teens were cited for careless driving and performing risky stunts in a retail parking lot.
    — Ashley Portillo, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of careless
Adjective
  • Wear it with sandals or sneakers, and a sun hat for a relaxed end-of-summer look, or style it with boots and a denim jacket for a fall dinner.
    — Jacquelyn McGilvray, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Slip into a very autumnal and burgundy pair, and style them with a relaxed button-down and pleated trousers.
    — India Roby, Glamour, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of relaxed

Browse Nearby Words

slabs
slack
slacked
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Cite this Entry

“Slack.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slack. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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