Definition

Slacking (noun) The act of avoiding work or duty; a deliberate failure to fulfill responsibilities or to put in the expected effort.

Usage

"Slacking" is used to describe the behavior of someone who is not working as hard as they should, often by being lazy, procrastinating, or finding ways to avoid tasks. It implies a neglect of duty.

Examples

• Management noticed a pattern of slacking among some employees after the long weekend.
• His constant slacking on the project led to significant delays.
• There's no room for slacking if we want to meet our deadline.

Advanced Usage

• "to be accused of slacking": To be formally charged or blamed for avoiding work.
  • The intern was accused of slacking after being seen on his phone for hours.
• "a culture of slacking": Describes an environment where avoiding work is common or tacitly accepted.
  • The new manager was hired to eliminate the culture of slacking in the department.

Variants and Related Words

• Slack (verb): To be lazy or to work less hard than you should.
  • He tends to slack off when the supervisor isn't around.
• Slacker (noun): A person who avoids work or duty.
  • Don't be such a slacker; we all need to contribute.

Synonyms

• Shirking
• Goldbricking
• Negligence
• Loafing
• Malingering

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Slack off: To reduce one's effort or to become less active; to be idle.
  • Productivity tends to slack off on Friday afternoons.

Noun

1. the evasion of work or duty