slackenverb [ I or T ]
uk/ˈslæk.ən/us/ˈslæk.ən/slacken verb [ I or T ] (LESS TIGHT)
to (cause to) become loose:
Slacken the reins or you'll hurt the horse's mouth.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Flexible, loose and yielding
- adrift
- bendable
- bendy
- ductile
- elastic
- flowing
- jointed
- loose
- loose-fitting
- loosely
- looseness
- plastic
- spring
- springy
- sprung
- stretch
- stretchy
- supple
- tensile
- yield
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slacken verb [ I or T ] (LESS ACTIVE)
to (cause to) become slower or less active:
He stooped to pick it up, without slackening his pace (= without walking more slowly).
The pace of trading slackened during the winter months.
The management expects demand to slacken (off) in the New Year.
The car's speed slackened (off) as it went up a steep hill.
Most people slacken off/up at the end of a day's work.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Increasing and decreasing speed of motion
- accelerant
- accelerate
- acceleration
- catch
- catch (sb) up
- decelerate
- downshift
- foot
- gun
- motor
- quicken
- retard
- retardation
- slow
- slow (sb/sth) down/up
- sped
- speed
- throttle
- throttle (sth) back/down
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