View synonyms for slacken

slacken

[ slak-uhn ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

verb (used with or without object)

to make or become less active, vigorous, intense, etc.
Synonyms: abate, slack, loosen, relax
to make or become looser or less taut.
Synonyms: abate, slack, loosen, relax
Antonyms: tense, tighten

slacken

/ ˈslækən /

Origin of slacken¹

First recorded in 1570–80; slack ¹ + -en ¹

In the 1990s, his pace began to slacken, and eventually the hits evaporated.

The country became more broken, and the grade so pronounced that the horses were compelled to slacken their pace.

It seems that once started on the rails of fortune, people need a certain time to slacken their speed or stop.

By 8.0 the musketry and the shelling began to slacken down although there was a good deal of desultory shooting.

If this is repeated a great many times the nut may slacken back so far as to become useless.

We were gaining on him still, and the heat of the day made him slacken his pace.

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