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Definitions

slow down

VERB
bog down
Synonyms
STRONGEST
halt hang up impede stall
WEAK
decelerate delay detain retard set back sink slacken slow up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advance forward help
VERB
brake
Synonyms
STRONGEST
decelerate impede
STRONG
bar block dam halt hinder moderate obstruct slacken slow stop
WEAK
reduce speed
Antonyms
STRONG
advance aid allow assist continue encourage forward free help let go liberate open permit promote push unblock
WEAK
accelerate
VERB
catch one's breath
Synonyms
WEAK
breathe ease off mellow out recuperate relax rest sit down stop for a breath take a break take ten wind down
VERB
check
Synonyms
STRONGEST
arrest control curb halt prevent reduce stop
STRONG
baffle bar bit bottleneck bridle checkmate choke circumvent constrain counteract delay discourage foil frustrate harness hold impede inhibit interrupt limit moderate neutralize obstruct obviate pause preclude rebuff repress repulse retard snub squelch stay suppress tame terminate thwart withhold
WEAK
cut short hold back hold down hold in keep back nip in the bud play for time rein in slacken pace
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid allow assist continue encourage help let go
STRONG
abet advance approve facilitate forward free permit release
WEAK
expedite indulge liberate
VERB
cumber
Synonyms
STRONG
burden delay encumber hinder impede inhibit load obstruct oppress overload saddle tax trouble
WEAK
hold back weigh down
Antonyms
STRONG
advance aid allow assist boost facilitate forward further help promote relieve support unburden
VERB
decrease
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abate curb curtail cut down decline depreciate deteriorate diminish drop drop off dwindle ease ebb fall off lessen lower reduce shrink sink slacken slash slump soften subside wane weaken
STRONG
check contract crumble decay degenerate devaluate droop evaporate fade lighten modify quell quiet restrain settle shrivel waste wither
WEAK
calm down die down dry up let up lose edge narrow down peter out run low slack off tail off wear away wear down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
ascend compliment develop enlarge expand extend go up grow improve increase irritate laud lengthen praise prolong raise rise strengthen
STRONG
build liberate upset
WEAK
add
VERB
detain
Synonyms
STRONGEST
apprehend confine delay jail
STRONG
bust buttonhole check constrain decelerate hinder ice impede inhibit intern mire nab pinch reserve restrain retard withhold
WEAK
bog down hang up hold up pick up pull in put away run-in send up set back slow up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
free liberate
STRONG
advance aid allow assist facilitate forward give help let go offer permit push release
VERB
drag
Synonyms
STRONGEST
crawl creep hang shuffle
STRONG
dally dawdle delay inch lag linger loiter poke procrastinate sag shamble stagnate straggle tarry traipse
WEAK
be delayed be quiescent encounter difficulty lag behind limp along mark time put off trail behind
Antonyms
STRONG
advance finish go hasten hurry push run rush speed
VERB
encumber
Synonyms
STRONGEST
burden overburden
STRONG
block charge clog cramp discommode embarrass hamper hinder hog-tie impede incommode inconvenience lade load obstruct oppress overload retard saddle tax trammel weight
WEAK
hang up hold up make difficult saddle with weigh down
Antonyms
STRONG
advance aid allow assist benefit boost clear encourage exonerate facilitate forward free further gladden help let go make happy open permit please promote push release support unblock unburden
VERB
hamper
Synonyms
STRONGEST
block curb frustrate hamstring hinder hobble hold up impede inconvenience inhibit obstruct prevent retard stymie thwart
STRONG
baffle balk bar bind check clog cramp cumber embarrass encumber entangle fetter foil hog-tie leash restrain shackle tie trammel
WEAK
cramp one's style drag one's feet get in the way hang up interfere with tie one's hands tie up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advance aid allow assist benefit encourage facilitate forward free further help let go permit promote push support
STRONG
abet explain liberate loose loosen open release unfasten untie
WEAK
expedite
VERB
hold up
Synonyms
STRONGEST
delay detain hinder impede interrupt stay stop suspend
WEAK
hold off interfere pause prorogue retard set back waive
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advance aid allow assist continue encourage facilitate forward further help
WEAK
permit promote
VERB
impede
Synonyms
STRONGEST
block curb cut off delay deter disrupt hamper interfere retard slow stymie thwart
STRONG
bar brake check clog dam discomfit disconcert embarrass faze freeze oppose rattle restrain stonewall stop
WEAK
blow whistle on close off cramp one's style dead-end flag one hang up hold up saddle with shut down shut off
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advance aid allow assist encourage expedite forward help permit promote push
STRONG
comfort continue free go liberate open release soothe unblock unclog
WEAK
facilitate support
VERB
laze
Synonyms
STRONGEST
loiter loll saunter
STRONG
bum dally dillydally dream drift evade goldbrick lie loaf lounge malinger piddle relax shirk slack stall stroll trifle vegetate
WEAK
be inactive be indolent be slothful be unoccupied bum around do nothing fool around fritter away hang out kill time knock around let down lounge around not lift a finger pass time sit around stand around take it easy twiddle thumbs waste time while away hours
Antonyms
STRONG
do face meet
VERB
lessen
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abate curtail decrease dilute diminish dwindle ease erode impair lighten minimize mitigate narrow shrink slacken taper off weaken
STRONG
abridge amputate attenuate clip close contract crop cut de-escalate decline degrade downsize drain minify moderate soft pedal taper thin truncate
WEAK
become smaller cut back die down grow less roll back slack up take the bite out take the edge off take the sting out wind down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
develop enlarge expand extend grow increase intensify irritate lengthen prolong strengthen worsen
STRONG
go up rise stretch
WEAK
raise
VERB
let up
Synonyms
WEAK
abate cease decrease die down die out diminish ease ease off ease up ebb fall moderate release relent slacken stop subside wane
Antonyms
WEAK
continue
VERB
loaf
Synonyms
STRONGEST
laze loll
STRONG
bum dally dillydally dream drift evade goldbrick idle lie loiter lounge malinger piddle relax saunter shirk slack stall stroll trifle vegetate
WEAK
be inactive be indolent be slothful be unoccupied bum around fool around fritter away hang out kill time knock around let down lounge around not lift a finger pass time sit around stand around take it easy twiddle thumbs waste time while away hours
Antonyms
STRONG
do face hurry meet run rush
WEAK
achieve energize labor work hard
VERB
mire
Synonyms
STRONGEST
bog down embroil enmesh ensnare entangle flounder implicate involve stick tangle trap
STRONG
cling decelerate detain dirty entrap retard sink snare soil
WEAK
hang up set back slow up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
exclude free let go release remove uncomplicate untangle untwist
STRONG
clean liberate
VERB
obstruct
Synonyms
STRONGEST
block curb cut off hamper hinder impede inhibit interfere obscure retard stall stonewall stymie thwart
STRONG
arrest bar barricade check choke clog close congest crab fill frustrate hamstring hide interrupt mask occlude plug restrain sandbag shield stop stopper terminate throttle trammel
WEAK
dead-end drag one's feet foul up get in the way hang up hold up monkey with shut off weigh down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advance aid allow assist encourage facilitate forward further help permit promote push
STRONG
begin continue free lay bare let go liberate open release reveal start support unblock uncover unmask unplug unstop
WEAK
abet boost clear
VERB
peter out
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abate die out ebb evaporate fade recede tail away tail off taper off wane
WEAK
come to nothing die down diminish drain dry up fail give out lessen run dry run low run out slack off stop
Antonyms
STRONGEST
increase rise
WEAK
grow
VERB
reduce
Synonyms
STRONGEST
curtail cut cut down diminish dwindle knock off lessen lower pare scale down shorten slash trim weaken
STRONG
abate abridge bankrupt break cheapen chop clip contract debase deflate depreciate depress diet dilute discount drain impair impoverish moderate pauperize rebate recede ruin shave slim taper truncate
WEAK
bant cut back go on a diet lose weight mark down nutshell roll back step down take off weight taper off tone down turn down wind down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
compliment develop enlarge expand extend grow increase lengthen praise prolong raise strengthen
STRONG
amplify enhance laud rise stretch upgrade
WEAK
invigorate win
VERB
rein
Synonyms
STRONGEST
curb repress restrict suppress
STRONG
bridle check collect compose cool halt hold limit smother
WEAK
hold back simmer down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
encourage let go release
STRONG
continue disperse scatter
WEAK
free
VERB
relax
Synonyms
STRONGEST
ease loosen lower modify reduce relieve slow weaken
STRONG
abate ebb loose mitigate moderate modulate remit slack slacken
WEAK
ease off lax let up lose speed untighten
Antonyms
STRONGEST
grow increase raise strengthen
STRONG
incite intensify rise
WEAK
agitate excite tense worry
VERB
retard
Synonyms
STRONGEST
choke off crimp decelerate hamper impede lessen
STRONG
arrest baffle balk bog brake check choke clog dawdle decrease defer delay detain down encumber falter fetter flag hesitate loaf loiter mire poke postpone reduce slacken stall
WEAK
back off bog down bring to screeching halt close off hang up hold back hold up let up set back shut down shut off slow up take down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid assist help promote
STRONG
advance allow continue do encourage expand expedite forward free further grow hasten hurry increase let go liberate maintain persevere raise release rush speed strengthen unblock
WEAK
push
VERB
set back
Synonyms
WEAK
bog down decelerate defeat detain embog hang up hold up impede mire retard reverse slow slow up
Antonyms
WEAK
advance forward
VERB
slack/slacken
Synonyms
WEAK
abate decrease diminish dodge drop off dwindle ease ease off featherbed flag goldbrick goof off idle lax lay back lessen let up lie down on job loose moderate neglect reduce relax release shirk slack off taper tire untighten wane
Antonyms
WEAK
stiffen tighten
VERB
stall
Synonyms
STRONGEST
halt hamper hinder interrupt postpone put off slow stay stop suspend
STRONG
arrest brake check die equivocate fence filibuster hedge prevaricate quibble stand still stonewall tarry temporize
WEAK
avoid the issue beat around the bush drag one's feet hold off not move play for time shut down stand off stand still take one's time
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advance aid allow assist carry out continue do encourage expedite forward help permit promote push
WEAK
further
VERB
strike
Synonyms
STRONGEST
go on strike hit the bricks stage a walkout walk out
STRONG
arbitrate boycott mediate negotiate picket quit
WEAK
be on strike hold out mutiny refuse to work resist revolt tie up
Antonyms
STRONG
lock out
WEAK
comply obey
VERB
unwind
Synonyms
STRONGEST
sit back take it easy
STRONG
quieten recline rest
WEAK
calm down ease off loosen up quiet down take a break wind down
Antonyms
WEAK
agitate prepare ready tangle twist wind
VERB
weaken
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abate decline decrease depress dilute diminish dwindle halt impair lessen lower reduce sap soften undermine wane
STRONG
adulterate crumble cut debase debilitate devitalize droop enervate exhaust fade fail faint flag impoverish invalidate languish limp lose minimize mitigate moderate relapse relax temper thin tire totter tremble vitiate wilt
WEAK
break up ease up give way lose spirit thin out water down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aid assist compliment develop encourage enlarge expand extend grow help increase praise prolong raise rise strengthen
STRONG
achieve activate aggravate agitate animate clean energize enhance excite free improve incite invigorate purify refresh succeed win
WEAK
build up

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Inflation is now expected to be higher this year and higher energy costs could also slow down the economy as people and businesses will have less money to spend.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

One option is for manufacturers to design sponges that are denser and more durable, which would slow down wear and reduce the number of fibers released.

From Science Daily • Apr. 18, 2026

Despite tightening supply, Micron and its fellow memory-chip makers have been reluctant to add capacity, fearing that demand will eventually slow down.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 17, 2026

In a world of hurry and deadlines, smartphones and social media, “The Fullness of Time” offers a reminder to slow down, to look up, to notice.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

He felt himself slow down in spite of his best efforts.

From "The Boy Who Met a Whale" by Nizrana Farook