slacking 1 of 2

noun

as in loafing

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slacking

2 of 2

verb

present participle of slack
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

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 slacking
Verb
It gets filed alongside carelessness, disorganization and not really trying, and the people who display it often apologize for it as though they’d been caught slacking. — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 But your employee isn’t slacking, Kagan said. — Jessica Guynn, USA Today, 14 June 2026 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 Not that the segment was slacking—far from it. — Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 14 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for slacking
  1. loafing
  2. loosening
  3. lounging
  4. slackening
  5. idling
  6. legal holiday
  7. rest
Noun
  • The researchers concluded that at least one of the keys to preventing social loafing is restoring individual responsibility within a group.
    — Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 6 Apr. 2026
Definition of loafing
Verb
  • National conservatives, for instance, oppose loosening the United States’ ties with Israel and tolerating Chinese and Russian imperialism.
    — Leonard A. Schuette, Foreign Affairs, 25 Aug. 2026
  • So will a flood of 401(k) money, thanks to loosening rules about what investments belong in Americans’ retirement accounts.
    — Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of loosening
Noun
  • The Sidecar lounges are a new design, targeting solo and small groups of travelers who are looking for a quicker pit stop as opposed to long-term lounging.
    — Jason Stauffer,Brett Holzhauer, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Boothbay, Maine Three Flags, a 2021 contemporary shingle-style home on Midcoast Maine’s Linekin Bay, has a waterfront porch for dining and lounging, with a wood-burning fireplace and motorized screens.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of lounging
Verb
  • Still further downstream the channel broadens out, and the slackening current has deposited débris and deadheads galore.
    — HARRY H. EDEL, Outdoor Life, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Another factor was the slackening appeal of industrial companies, which had long absorbed the greatest number of young graduates.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 May 2026
Definition of slackening
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
Definition of idling
Noun
  • California, where his farm workers organizing movement began, made his birthday a legal holiday in 2000, and President Barack Obama later established it as a federal commemorative holiday.
    — Steve Chapman, Chicago Tribune, 6 May 2026
  • Colorado recognizes March 31 as a voluntary legal holiday, with state offices remaining open.
    — Nick Coltrain, Denver Post, 31 Mar. 2026
Definition of legal holiday
Noun
  • Water, snacks, rest and weather conditions shape the schedule, with his well-being guiding each appearance.
    — Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
  • When budgets tighten, the report finds consumers protect relationships, rest and personal growth first, cutting material purchases and discretionary splurges before anything tied to connection or well-being.
    — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of rest

Browse Nearby Words

slackers
slacking
slacking (off)
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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