lax
Not strict or careful enough.
lax in a sentence
- The lax guard dozed at the gate, so the fox slipped into the henhouse unseen.
- Rules about bedtime grow rather lax at Granny's house during the summer holidays.
Try an 11+ style question
Verbal reasoning papers often ask about a word like this.
Which word is closest in meaning to lax?
- Afirm
- Bcareful
- Cstrict
- Dcareless
Show the answer
D: careless. The other three mean the opposite of lax.
Which word is most nearly opposite in meaning to lax?
- Aloose
- Bslack
- Cstrict
- Dcareless
Show the answer
C: strict. The other three mean nearly the same as lax.
Words that mean something similar
careless, loose, slack
Words that mean the opposite
strict, careful, firm
More words about behaviour & manners
- leeway: Freedom to do things in your own way or make small mistakes.
- lenient: Gentle and not strict when someone breaks a rule.
- liberty: The freedom to live, think and act as you choose.
- lure: To tempt a person or animal into going somewhere.
- meddle: To interfere in things that are not your business.
- menace: Something or someone that causes danger or harm.
- mercy: The kindness you show someone when you could have punished or harmed them.
- mingle: To mix with other people at a gathering.
More words to explore
Sitting the 11+ in Kent, Medway or Buckinghamshire?
Plain-English guides to each test, from the councils’ own pages: Kent Test · Medway Test · Bucks Secondary Transfer Test