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slackento become slower, less active, or less intense

Part of speech: VERB

Definition: to become slower, less active, or less intense

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈslækən/

Example Sentences

  • After eating too much pizza, John's running speed began to slacken dramatically.
  • The teacher noticed that students' attention tends to slacken right before lunch.
  • Sales usually slacken during the winter months.

slacken

VERB

[/ˈslækən/]

to become slower, less active, or less intense

The sailors slacken the ropes as the ship enters calmer waters.
💡 Concept

The sailors slacken the ropes as the ship enters calmer waters.

Steps slacken in the bracken as skies blacken.
🎵 Rhyme

Steps slacken in the bracken as skies blacken.

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈslækən/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈslækən/

🌳Etymology

Rootslack
Suffix--en

Origin

From Middle English 'slacken', derived from Old English 'slæc' meaning slack or loose, combined with the causative suffix '-en' meaning to make or become.

Breakdown

slack (loose, not tight) + -en (causative suffix meaning to make or become) = slacken (to make or become slack/loose)

🎵Rhyme

blackenbracken
blacken
bracken

🔗Collocations

slacken the pace
slacken demand
slacken one's grip
slacken off
slacken the rope
slacken efforts

📝Examples

😄 Fun example

After eating too much pizza, John's running speed began to slacken dramatically.

The teacher noticed that students' attention tends to slacken right before lunch.

Sales usually slacken during the winter months.

😄 Fun example

My motivation to exercise tends to slacken when I see a donut shop.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

decreasereduceeasediminishlessen

Antonyms

tightenaccelerateintensify

Related

slacklooserelaxslow

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