slackening
Becoming less taut
Slackening is a loosening or reduction in tension, speed, or intensity.
A rope slackens when pulled less taut.
Pace slackens when it slows: There's been no slackening of demand.
The word implies a gradual easing rather than a sudden stop—things that slacken don't cease entirely but become less vigorous or urgent.
Decrease in speed
- slowingDecreasing in velocity
- retardationSlowing or delay
- brakingReducing speed deliberately
- letupReduction in intensity
lull · moderation · cooling · tapering · pause · respite · stagnation · plateau
Making something smaller
- declineDecrease or refuse
- diminutionReduction in size
- dropFall or release
- lesseningBecoming reduced in degree
downturn · fall · dip · ebb · contraction · shrinkage · cutback · decrement
Reducing tightness or tension
- relaxingBecoming less tense
- releasingAllowing to escape
- easingReducing strain or difficulty
- untighteningMaking something less firm
unfastening · giving · yielding · play · give · laxity · sag · droop
Becoming less strong
- waningGradually decreasing in intensity
- fadingGradual loss of intensity
- diminishingBecoming progressively less
- flaggingLosing vigor progressively
ebbing · declining · deteriorating · eroding · atrophying · withering · wilting · languishing
deceleration
Decrease in speed
- slowingDecreasing in velocity
- retardationSlowing or delay
- brakingReducing speed deliberately
letup · lull · moderation · cooling · tapering · pause · respite · stagnation · plateau
reduction
Making something smaller
- declineDecrease or refuse
- diminutionReduction in size
- dropFall or release
lessening · downturn · fall · dip · ebb · contraction · shrinkage · cutback · decrement · tapering
loosening
Reducing tightness or tension
untightening · unfastening · giving · yielding · play · give · laxity · sag · droop
weakening
Becoming less strong
- waningGradually decreasing in intensity
- fadingGradual loss of intensity
- diminishingBecoming progressively less
flagging · ebbing · declining · deteriorating · eroding · atrophying · withering · wilting · languishing · sagging
- decreasesreduction, decline, drop, fall, decrease
- gradual motioncrawling, creeping, inching, drifting, gliding
- relaxation techniquesdeep relaxation, relaxing, muscle relaxation, body scan, body warmth
slackeningtightening
Making less loose
tensing · tautening · straining · stretching · cinching
slackeningintensifying
Increasing in strength
redoubling · heightening · escalating · ramping up · stepping up
slackeningaccelerating
Increasing in speed
quickening · speeding up · acceleration · hastening · picking up
slack, slacken, slacker, slacks, slacking, slackers, slacked, slackened, slackness