slacken

verb

1. become slow or slower; “Production slowed”

   Synonyms

   • slow, slow down, slow up, slack

   Less specific

   • weaken

2. make less active or fast; “He slackened his pace as he got tired”; “Don’t relax your efforts now”

   Synonyms

   • slack, slack up, relax

   Less specific

   • decrease, lessen, minify

3. become looser or slack; “the rope slackened”

   Less specific

   • weaken

   See also

   • ease up, ease off, slacken off, flag

4. make slack as by lessening tension or firmness

   Synonyms

   • remit

   Less specific

   • loosen, loose

   More specific

   • douse, dowse