slackens

verb

present tense third-person singular of slacken
1
as in loosens
to make less taut you'll need to slacken the rope a bit to get it free of that post

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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

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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
  1. loosens
  2. slows
Verb
  • When the lid loosens, LINE1 jumps around, DNA damage piles up and biological aging speeds up.
    — Hanna Wickes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Fixing Loose Tiles With Hot Glue When tile loosens, one apparently clever home DIY is to reapply it with a hot glue gun.
    — Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of loosens
Verb
  • An injury can damage a vein, while prolonged inactivity slows blood flow.
    — Angela Haupt, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Thus, Planet 1 slows down and begins to lag behind Planet 2, widening the gap between them.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of slows

Browse Nearby Words

slackening
slackens
slacker
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Cite this Entry

“Slackens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slackens. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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