slack

1 of 5

adjective

ˈslak

: not using due diligence, care, or dispatch : negligent

: characterized by slowness, sluggishness, or lack of energy

a slack pace

: moderate in some quality

especially : moderately warm

a slack oven

: blowing or flowing at low speed

the tide was slack

: not tight or taut

a slack rope

: lacking in usual or normal firmness and steadiness : weak

slack muscles

slack supervision

: wanting in activity : dull

a slack market

: lacking in completeness, finish, or perfection

a very slack piece of work

slackly adverb

slackness noun

slack

2 of 5

verb

slacked; slacking; slacks

intransitive verb

: to be or become slack

: to shirk or evade work or duty

transitive verb

: to be slack or negligent in performing or doing

: lessen, moderate

: to release tension on : loosen

: to cause to abate

: slake sense 3

slack

3 of 5

noun (1)

: cessation in movement or flow

: a part of something that hangs loose without strain

take up the slack of a rope

: trousers especially for casual wear

—usually used in plural

: a dull season or period

: a part that is available but not used

some slack in the budget

: a portion (as of labor or resources) that is required but lacking

hired a temp to take up the slack

: additional leeway or relief from pressure

—usually used with cut

refused to cut me some slack on the schedule

slack

4 of 5

noun (2)

dialectal, England

: a pass between hills

slack

5 of 5

noun (3)

: the finest screenings of coal produced at a mine unusable as fuel unless cleaned

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English slak, from Old English sleac; akin to Old High German slah slack, Latin laxus slack, loose, languēre to languish, Greek lagnos lustful and perhaps to Greek lēgein to stop

Noun (2)

Middle English slak, from Old Norse slakki

Noun (3)

earlier sleck, probably from Middle Dutch slacke, slecke slag

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1756, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1729, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

slack 1 of 3

adjective

ˈslak

: careless sense 1, negligent

They were slack in all things, without order or discipline.

Jack London, The Call of the Wild

: not energetic : slow

a slack pace

: not tight or firm

a slack rope

a slack jaw

: not busy or active

Business is slack.

slack

2 of 3

verb

slacked; slacking

: to make or become looser, slower, or less energetic

: to avoid work

slack

3 of 3

noun

: a part (as of a rope or sail) that hangs loose without strain

slacks plural : dressy pants

: a portion (as of work or resources) that is required but lacking

He was hired to take up the slack.

: additional relief from pressure

Hint: This sense is usually used with cut. Can you cut me some slack on the schedule?

slack 1 of 3

adjective

as in lazy

failing to give proper care and attention a building contractor known mainly for his firm's slack workmanship and slipshod construction

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

lazy
neglecting
careless
neglectful
lax
negligent
derelict
reckless
remiss
disregardful
oblivious
forgetful
irresponsible
loose
heedless
inattentive
thoughtless
disregarding
unguarded
unmindful
disinterested
uninterested
apathetic
delinquent
indifferent
unconcerned
incautious
unthinking
wild
unwary
unheeding

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

careful
cautious
punctilious
conscientious
attentive
nonnegligent
circumspect
watchful
responsible
mindful
wary
meticulous
vigilant
painstaking
regarding
thinking
chary
observant
alert
guarded
gingerly
heedful
thoughtful
interested
concerned
forethoughtful
heeding
provident
regardful
foresighted

as in flexible

not bound by rigid standards slack supervision on the project

Synonyms & Similar Words

flexible
relaxed
sloppy
lax
loose
careless
lazy
unrestricted
easygoing
unrestrained
negligent
slovenly
slipshod
neglectful
irresponsible
heedless
remiss
sloven
derelict
unfussy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rigid
hard
severe
stern
tight
harsh
strict
rigorous
careful
restrained
restricted
constrained
conscientious
exact
scrupulous
meticulous
inflexible
fussy
punctilious
painstaking
implacable

as in loosened

not tightly fastened, tied, or stretched left the ropes slack

Synonyms & Similar Words

loosened
loose
slackened
lax
relaxed
undone
insecure
detached
unsecured
untied
unbound
unfastened
unattached
free
baggy
saggy
blousy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

tight
taut
tense
restrained
constrained
bound
attached
fast
tied
stuck
firm
jammed
fastened
wedged
snug

slack

2 of 3

noun

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

latitude
leeway
space
wiggle room
rein
swing
license
licence

as in slackness

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

slackness
sag
hang
droop
laxness
looseness
limpness
laxity
floppiness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

tension
rigidity
tightness
tautness
tenseness
rigidness

as in pants

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

pants
trousers
jeans
britches
breeches
pantaloons
blue jeans
denims
hose
cords
pants suit
corduroys
knee breeches
cargo pants
sweatpants
leggin
baggies
legging
pantsuit
bell-bottoms
knickerbockers
bloomers

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

loosen
slacken
relax
ease
untie
free
detach
unfasten
undo
unbind

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

tension
stretch
tighten
strain
tense
tie
bind
restrain
attach
fasten
constrain

Synonym Chooser

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

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

a reporter lax about accurate quotation

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

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

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

单词	slack
释义	slack 1 of 5 adjective ˈslak 1 : not using due diligence, care, or dispatch : negligent 2 a : characterized by slowness, sluggishness, or lack of energy a slack pace b : moderate in some quality especially : moderately warm a slack oven c : blowing or flowing at low speed the tide was slack 3 a : not tight or taut a slack rope b : lacking in usual or normal firmness and steadiness : weak slack muscles slack supervision 4 : wanting in activity : dull a slack market 5 : lacking in completeness, finish, or perfection a very slack piece of work slackly adverb slackness noun slack 2 of 5 verb slacked; slacking; slacks intransitive verb 1 : to be or become slack 2 : to shirk or evade work or duty transitive verb 1 a : to be slack or negligent in performing or doing b : lessen, moderate 2 : to release tension on : loosen 3 a : to cause to abate b : slake sense 3 slack 3 of 5 noun (1) 1 : cessation in movement or flow 2 : a part of something that hangs loose without strain take up the slack of a rope 3 : trousers especially for casual wear —usually used in plural 4 : a dull season or period 5 a : a part that is available but not used some slack in the budget b : a portion (as of labor or resources) that is required but lacking hired a temp to take up the slack 6 : additional leeway or relief from pressure —usually used with cut refused to cut me some slack on the schedule slack 4 of 5 noun (2) dialectal, England : a pass between hills slack 5 of 5 noun (3) : the finest screenings of coal produced at a mine unusable as fuel unless cleaned Synonyms Adjective careless derelict disregardful lax lazy neglectful neglecting negligent remiss Verb ease loosen relax slacken Noun (1) latitude leeway space wiggle room See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Adjective His broken arm hung slack at his side. The rope suddenly went slack. He accused the government of slack supervision of nuclear technology. Verb They need to stop slacking and get down to work. the skipper ordered the crew to slack off the sheets on the mainsail Word History Etymology Adjective Middle English slak, from Old English sleac; akin to Old High German slah slack, Latin laxus slack, loose, languēre to languish, Greek lagnos lustful and perhaps to Greek lēgein to stop Noun (2) Middle English slak, from Old Norse slakki Noun (3) earlier sleck, probably from Middle Dutch slacke, slecke slag First Known Use Adjective before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Verb 13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1 Noun (1) 1756, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Noun (2) 14th century, in the meaning defined above Noun (3) 1729, in the meaning defined above Phrases Containing slack give/cut (someone) some slack slack water slack off pick/take up the slack slack-jawed give/cut (someone) some slack slack water slack off pick/take up the slack slack-jawed Kids Definition slack 1 of 3 adjective ˈslak 1 : careless sense 1, negligent They were slack in all things, without order or discipline. Jack London, The Call of the Wild 2 : not energetic : slow a slack pace 3 : not tight or firm a slack rope a slack jaw 4 : not busy or active Business is slack. slack 2 of 3 verb slacked; slacking 1 : to make or become looser, slower, or less energetic 2 : to avoid work slack 3 of 3 noun 1 : a part (as of a rope or sail) that hangs loose without strain 2 slacks plural : dressy pants 3 : a portion (as of work or resources) that is required but lacking He was hired to take up the slack. 4 : additional relief from pressure Hint: This sense is usually used with cut. Can you cut me some slack on the schedule? slack 1 of 3 adjective 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 Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance lazy neglecting careless neglectful lax negligent derelict reckless remiss disregardful oblivious forgetful irresponsible loose heedless inattentive thoughtless disregarding unguarded unmindful disinterested uninterested apathetic delinquent indifferent unconcerned incautious unthinking wild unwary unheeding Antonyms & Near Antonyms careful cautious punctilious conscientious attentive nonnegligent circumspect watchful responsible mindful wary meticulous vigilant painstaking regarding thinking chary observant alert guarded gingerly heedful thoughtful interested concerned forethoughtful heeding provident regardful foresighted See More 2 as in flexible not bound by rigid standards slack supervision on the project Synonyms & Similar Words flexible relaxed sloppy lax loose careless lazy unrestricted easygoing unrestrained negligent slovenly slipshod neglectful irresponsible heedless remiss sloven derelict unfussy Antonyms & Near Antonyms rigid hard severe stern tight harsh strict rigorous careful restrained restricted constrained conscientious exact scrupulous meticulous inflexible fussy punctilious painstaking implacable See More 3 as in loosened not tightly fastened, tied, or stretched left the ropes slack Synonyms & Similar Words loosened loose slackened lax relaxed undone insecure detached unsecured untied unbound unfastened unattached free baggy saggy blousy Antonyms & Near Antonyms tight taut tense restrained constrained bound attached fast tied stuck firm jammed fastened wedged snug See More 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 Synonyms & Similar Words latitude leeway space wiggle room rein swing license licence 2 as in slackness the extent to which something hangs or dips below a straight line take up the slack of a rope Synonyms & Similar Words slackness sag hang droop laxness looseness limpness laxity floppiness Antonyms & Near Antonyms tension rigidity tightness tautness tenseness rigidness 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 Synonyms & Similar Words pants trousers jeans britches breeches pantaloons blue jeans denims hose cords pants suit corduroys knee breeches cargo pants sweatpants leggin baggies legging pantsuit bell-bottoms knickerbockers bloomers 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 Synonyms & Similar Words loosen slacken relax ease untie free detach unfasten undo unbind Antonyms & Near Antonyms tension stretch tighten strain tense tie bind restrain attach fasten constrain See More Synonym Chooser 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 While in some cases nearly identical to slack, lax implies a blameworthy lack of strictness, severity, or precision. a reporter lax about accurate quotation 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 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 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
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slack

adjective

verb

noun (1)

noun (2)

noun (3)

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing slack

Kids Definition

adjective

verb

noun

adjective

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser