Slack

As an Adjective

1. Loose or not tightly held (e.g., a slack rope).
2. Lacking energy, effort, or discipline (e.g., a slack attitude toward work).
3. Slow or not busy (e.g., business was slack this month).

As a Noun

1. The part of something that is loose or not stretched (e.g., take up the slack in the rope).
2. A slowdown in business or activity (e.g., sales have been in a slack lately).
3. Extra time, space, or flexibility (e.g., leave some slack in the schedule).

As a Verb

1. To loosen or make less tight (e.g., he slacked the rope).
2. To reduce effort or work less hard (e.g., he slacked off after lunch).
3. To become slower or less intense (e.g., the storm slacked off).

Word History

The word slack comes from Old English slæc, meaning “loose, careless, or sluggish.” It is related to similar words in Old Norse and Germanic languages, all referring to looseness or lack of tension. Over time, it evolved to describe physical looseness, reduced effort, and slow activity.

Examples

1. The rope was too slack to hold the weight.
2. His slack approach to studying hurt his grades.
3. Work has been slack since the holidays.
4. She slacked off at the gym and lost progress.
5. The company had to pick up the slack after layoffs.

Synonyms

Loose, relaxed, slow, lazy, unmotivated

Related Words

Lax, weak, sluggish, idle, unfastened

Antonyms

Tight, firm, active, hardworking, tense