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
  • In the late 1970s, Giorgio Armani stripped the structure out of the traditional suit, softening its shoulders and loosening its trousers.
    — John Vorwald, Robb Report, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Furthermore, loosening these restrictions risks igniting new supply friction.
    — , CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of loosening
Noun
  • Aside from the Nordic saunas and pools, there are dedicated rooms for silent lounging and treatment rooms using all-natural products.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Additional highlights include two more fireplaces and a three-car garage, plus a landscaped backyard with a swimming pool and ample patio space for alfresco lounging and dining areas.
    — Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 14 Oct. 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
  • In 1894, President Cleveland signed a congressional act establishing the first Monday of September as a legal holiday, which has become known for promotional sales as well as a day off for many.
    — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Then-President Grover Cleveland signed the act making Labor Day an official federal legal holiday on June 28, 1894.
    — Jennie Key, Cincinnati Enquirer, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of legal holiday
Noun
  • But the practice of long rest cures had waned in Switzerland in the nineteen-nineties, in part because health insurers stopped fully covering extended stays at spas and wellness centers.
    — D. T. Max, New Yorker, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Since returning to the Vatican, Leo has gradually resumed his activities while adjusting his schedule to prioritize recovery and periods of rest, the statement said.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 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 27 Oct. 2026.

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