retarding
Deliberately slowing down
Retarding is the present participle of retard, meaning slowing or delaying: Fire-retarding materials slow the spread of flames.
This technical sense remains standard, though some writers avoid the word entirely because of its association with the slur for people with disabilities.
Something blocking the way
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- impedimentThing that obstructs progress
- impedimentThing that obstructs progress
- blockadeSealing off a place
encumbrance · handicap · constraint · deterrent · restriction · limitation · setback · curb
Delay to later time
- deferDelay or submit
- lagPeriod of falling behind
- stallEnclosed compartment or delay
- suspendHalt or hang temporarily
moratorium · slowdown · holdup · setback · wait · pause · protraction · prolongation
Process of becoming complete
- growthIncrease in size
- stuntingArresting natural growth
- regressionReturn to former state
- underdevelopmentInadequate economic or social progress
Device to slow motion
- gearboxEnclosed system of cogs
- clutchMechanism linking engine to gearbox
- damperDevice reducing vibration or flow
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
flywheel · caliper · drum · disc · hydraulics · transmission · governor · regulator
Inhibits ignition and burning
- antioxidantOxidation-preventing molecule
- preservativeAgent preventing spoilage
- stabilizerThing ensuring steadiness
- inhibitorAgent that slows reactions
plasticizer · catalyst · accelerant · additive · surfactant · emulsifier · thickener
obstacle
Something blocking the way
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- impedimentThing that obstructs progress
- impedimentThing that obstructs progress
blockade · encumbrance · handicap · constraint · deterrent · restriction · limitation · setback · curb · interference
postpone
Delay to later time
suspend · moratorium · slowdown · holdup · setback · wait · pause · protraction · prolongation · deferral
maturation
Process of becoming complete
- growthIncrease in size
- stuntingArresting natural growth
- regressionReturn to former state
brake
Device to slow motion
- gearboxEnclosed system of cogs
- clutchMechanism linking engine to gearbox
- damperDevice reducing vibration or flow
friction · flywheel · caliper · drum · disc · hydraulics · transmission · governor · regulator · throttle
flame-retardant
Inhibits ignition and burning
- antioxidantOxidation-preventing molecule
- preservativeAgent preventing spoilage
- stabilizerThing ensuring steadiness
inhibitor · plasticizer · catalyst · accelerant · additive · surfactant · emulsifier · thickener
- bakingbaking, bread baking, cake decorating, mixing, whisking
- restrainingconstraining, restricting, limiting, confining, curbing
retardingaccelerating
Increasing in speed
hastening · speeding up · expediting · quickening · fast-tracking
retardingadvancing
Moving in forward direction
furthering · promoting · forwarding · facilitating · fostering
tardy, tardiness, retard, retarded, deceleration, retardation, retards, retardations