slackness
/'slæknis/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- The quality of being lax and neglectful: A state of not being careful, strict, or attentive enough; characterized by a lack of effort or care.
- The quality of being loose (not taut): The physical state of not being stretched tight; having some degree of looseness or sag.
- Weakness characterized by a lack of vitality or energy: A state of physical or mental lethargy, sluggishness, or lack of vigor.
Usage Examples
- Referring to laxness/neglect:
- The manager was fired for the slackness in his supervision of the project.
- There is no room for slackness in safety procedures.
- Referring to physical looseness:
- The slackness of the old rope made it unsafe for climbing.
- Check the belt for any slackness before starting the machine.
- Referring to lethargy/lack of energy:
- After the long illness, a general slackness affected his muscles.
- She fought against the feeling of slackness that came with the afternoon heat.
Advanced Usage
- "slackness of purpose": A specific phrase describing a lack of determination or clear aim.
- The team's failure was due to a fundamental slackness of purpose.
- "moral slackness": Used to describe a lack of strict moral principles or discipline.
- The novel critiques the moral slackness of the upper class.
Variants and Related Words
- Slack (adj.): Not tight or tense; lacking in activity; negligent.
- a slack rope; a slack period in business.
- Slack (verb): To be or become slack; to work or perform less intensely.
- He slacked off during his final year of study.
- Slackly (adv.): In a slack manner.
- The banner hung slackly from the pole.
Synonyms
- Laxity: Lack of strictness or care.
- Negligence: Failure to take proper care.
- Looseness: The state of not being firmly fixed in place.
- Lethargy: A lack of energy and enthusiasm.
- Flaccidity: The state of being soft and hanging loosely.
Antonyms
- Tightness: The state of being stretched or drawn taut.
- Vigilance: The action or state of keeping careful watch for possible danger or difficulties.
- Diligence: Careful and persistent work or effort.
- Tautness: The state of being pulled or drawn tight.
- Rigor: The quality of being extremely thorough, exhaustive, or accurate.
Related Phrases
- To take up the slack: To tighten a loose rope; figuratively, to use resources that are not being used or to improve a situation that is not efficient.
- The new factory will take up the slack in regional employment.
- Slack off: (Phrasal Verb) To decrease in activity or intensity; to become lazier.
- Don't slack off just because the deadline is far away.
Noun
- the quality of being lax and neglectful
- the quality of being loose (not taut)
- he hadn't counted on the slackness of the rope
- weakness characterized by a lack of vitality or energy