SLACKENS Synonyms: 72 Similar and Opposite Words

slackens

verb

present tense third-person singular of slacken

as in loosens

to make less taut you'll need to slacken the rope a bit to get it free of that post

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in slows

to cause to move or proceed at a less rapid pace drivers need to slacken their speed as they approach the sharp curve

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 slackens On DeFilippis’s stage (kept effectively earthy and stark by scenic designer Ashley Basile), the stakes are ratcheted up from the jump and the tension never slackens. — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Mar. 2026 Electromagnetism and the weak interaction intensify, while the strong force slackens. — Quanta Magazine, 11 Mar. 2026 The pacing slackens a little as the complicated process inches forward, but the ending tugs the heartstrings in enormously satisfying ways. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026 With the help of Matt Mayer’s rhythmic editing and Tony Doogan’s string-torturing score, the intrigue never slackens. — Bob Strauss, San Francisco Chronicle, 19 Aug. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for slackens

Verb

Earlier may be possible, the doctor replied, if the skin around her surgical scar loosens.

— Jesse Bedayn, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2026
As California loosens its grip as the filming capital of the world, New York is drawing big-name titles at a much faster pace, according to industry tracker ProdPro’s quarterly snapshot released last week.

— Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of loosens

Browse Nearby Words

slackening

slackens

slacker

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Slackens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slackens. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of slackens

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

grotesque

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes