LAX
Dictionary entry overview: What does lax mean?
• LAX (adjective)
The adjective LAX has 5 senses:
1. lacking in rigor or strictness
2. pronounced with muscles of the tongue and jaw relatively relaxed (e.g., the vowel sound in 'bet')
3. not taut or rigid; not stretched or held tight
4. lacking in strength or firmness or resilience
5. emptying easily or excessively
Familiarity information: LAX used as an adjective is common.
Dictionary entry details
• LAX (adjective)
Meaning:
Lacking in rigor or strictness
Synonyms:
lax; slack
Context examples:
such lax and slipshod ways are no longer acceptable / lax in attending classes / slack in maintaining discipline
Similar:
negligent (characterized by neglect and undue lack of concern)
Meaning:
Pronounced with muscles of the tongue and jaw relatively relaxed (e.g., the vowel sound in 'bet')
Domain category:
phonetics (the branch of acoustics concerned with speech processes including its production and perception and acoustic analysis)
Antonym:
tense (pronounced with relatively tense tongue muscles (e.g., the vowel sound in 'beat'))
Meaning:
Not taut or rigid; not stretched or held tight
Context example:
a lax rope
Similar:
tensionless (free from tension)
relaxed (made less tense or rigid)
loose-jointed (loosely articulated or constructed)
loose; slack (not tense or taut)
floppy (hanging limply)
drooping; droopy; sagging (hanging down (as from exhaustion or weakness))
Also:
loose (not tight; not closely constrained or constricted or constricting)
Antonym:
tense (taut or rigid; stretched tight)
Meaning:
Lacking in strength or firmness or resilience
Synonyms:
flaccid; limp; slack; lax
Context examples:
flaccid muscles / took his lax hand in hers / gave a limp handshake / a limp gesture as if waving away all desire to know / a slack grip
Similar:
weak (having little physical or spiritual strength)
Meaning:
Emptying easily or excessively
Synonyms:
lax; loose
Context example:
loose bowels
Similar:
regular; unconstipated (not constipated)
