Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun A tendency of a vessel under sail to fall off or away from the direction of the wind when the helm is amidships: opposed to ardency.
  • noun The character or state of being slack, in any sense.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun The quality or state of being slack.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The state of being slack; the quality of having slack.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the quality of being loose (not taut)
  • noun weakness characterized by a lack of vitality or energy
  • noun the quality of being lax and neglectful

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

slack +‎ -ness

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word slackness.

Examples

  • Ranks 'distinctive, booming growl of a voice earned him many imitators, and his sex-obsessed lyrics - while drawing criticism for their unrelenting "slackness" - made him one of dancehall's hottest sex symbols.

    newsday.co.tt 2009

  • That what men count slackness is truly long-suffering, and that to us-ward; it is giving more time to his own people, whom he has chosen before the foundation of the world, many of whom are not as yet converted; and those who are in a state of grace and favour with God are to advance in knowledge and holiness, and in the exercise of faith and patience, to abound in good works, doing and suffering what they are called to, that they may bring glory to God, and improve in a meetness for heaven; for God is not willing that any of these should perish, but that all of them should come to repentance.

    Commentary on the Whole Bible Volume VI (Acts to Revelation) 1721

  • Defense officials slammed UNIFIL and the Lebanese government Monday night, claiming that their "slackness" was what enabled Hizbullah to plant five deadly explosive devices along the border between Israel and Lebanon.

    Archive 2007-02-01 GayandRight 2007

  • At cricket matches minor Bloods parrol; ed the crowd of spectators to detect and punish any "slackness" in the applause; it reminds one of the precautions taken when Nero sang.

    Surprised by Joy Lewis, C. S. 1955

  • The committee was critical of the "slackness" among officials towards legislators and Lok

    The Hindu - Front Page 2010

  • "slackness" that only fine moral training can overcome.

    Blue Aloes Stories of South Africa Cynthia Stockley

  • Mr. Bhat said in an interview late Tuesday that Titan expects the sales momentum to continue for the company's watches and eyewear products as it hasn't experienced any slackness in overall consumer demand despite fears of growth slowing in Asia's third-largest economy.

    Titan: High Gold Prices May Hurt Jewelry Demand Rumman Ahmed 2011

  • Surprisingly, few critics on the left seem alarmed, a slackness that Susan Sontag prominently cautions against in her 1974 essay, Fascinating Fascism.

    G. Roger Denson: You Say You Want a Revolution. Well You Know, Art Can Cure You of That G. Roger Denson 2011

  • Surprisingly, few critics on the left seem alarmed, a slackness that Susan Sontag prominently cautions against in her 1974 essay, Fascinating Fascism.

    G. Roger Denson: You Say You Want a Revolution. Well You Know, Art Can Cure You of That G. Roger Denson 2011

  • But since in the hopeless darkness he can turn his valour to no noble end, he chafes at his slackness in the fray and craves the boon of immediate light, resolved to find a death worthy of his bravery, even though Zeus should fight in the ranks against him.

    Archive 2010-03-01 Hal Duncan 2010

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.