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Antonyms for slack


Grammar : Adj, noun
Spell : slak
Phonetic Transcription : slæk



Definition of slack

Origin :
  • Old English slæc "remiss, lax, characterized by lack of energy, sluggish, indolent, languid; slow, gentle, easy," from Proto-Germanic *slakas (cf. Old Saxon slak, Old Norse slakr, Old High German slah "slack," Middle Dutch lac "fault, lack"), from PIE root *(s)leg- "to be slack" (see lax).
  • Sense of "not tight" (in reference to things) is first recorded c.1300. As an adverb from late 14c. Slack-key (1975) translates Hawaiian ki ho'alu. Slack water (n.) "time when tide is not flowing" is from 1769. Slack-handed "remiss" is from 1670s. Slack-baked "baked imperfectly, half-baked" is from 1823; figuratively from 1840.
  • adj loose, baggy; inactive
  • adj lazy, negligent
  • noun looseness, excess
Example sentences :
  • Ayllon had the necklace with him in the slack of his doublet.
  • Extract from : « The Trail Book » by Mary Austin
  • I was plenty busy taking in slack, so I did not notice Dick.
  • Extract from : « The Forest » by Stewart Edward White
  • The coves and hollows were better wooded and there were some stretches of slack water.
  • Extract from : « The Long Labrador Trail » by Dillon Wallace
  • Too rash Love in its choice, paid you so largely service so slack!
  • Extract from : « Graded Poetry: Second Year » by Various
  • Taut, now, the quivering lines; now slack; and so, let her go!
  • Extract from : « Poems » by William D. Howells
  • It was excusable for her to slack a little on Monday after drudging all through the week.
  • Extract from : « L'Assommoir » by Emile Zola
  • From his slack jaws poured a constant whining of words, unintelligible.
  • Extract from : « Louisiana Lou » by William West Winter
  • He was in the slack water of the soul, when the ebb is spent, before the tide has begun to flow.
  • Extract from : « The Manxman » by Hall Caine
  • Little by little his slack body began to stiffen; little by little he raised himself.
  • Extract from : « Once to Every Man » by Larry Evans
  • Fortunately the line was slack and I could throw off the drag and let him run.
  • Extract from : « Tales of Fishes » by Zane Grey

Synonyms for slack

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019