“Slowing” is the present participle form of the verb “slow”. Here's an analysis of its synonyms:
Decelerating
“Decelerating” is a very close synonym for “slowing”. It specifically means to reduce speed or to cause something to move or operate at a slower pace. For example, “The car was decelerating as it approached the traffic light.” Just like “slowing”, it emphasizes the action of making the velocity decrease. However, “decelerating” is often used in more technical or formal contexts, especially when talking about vehicles, machinery, or physical movements where the change in speed is being precisely described.
Retarding
“Retarding” also means to slow down or delay the progress or movement of something. For example, “The rough surface was retarding the ball's roll.” It implies creating an obstacle or using a force to make the movement become slower. Compared to “slowing”, “retarding” sometimes has a connotation of imposing a hindrance or something that actively works against the normal speed or progress of an object or process.
Slackening
“Slackening” means to become or make something become less tight, tense, or fast. For example, “The wind was slackening, and the sails began to droop.” When it comes to speed, it can mean that the pace is becoming slower. It often has a sense of a gradual easing off or losing the previous intensity or quickness. While “slowing” is a more general term for reducing speed, “slackening” can give the impression of a natural or gentle reduction in pace, as if things are losing their drive or energy.
Reducing speed
This is a straightforward and common phrase that can be used instead of “slowing”. For example, “The driver was reducing speed because of the bad road conditions.” It clearly conveys the idea of making the speed lower and is easy to understand in various contexts, just like “slowing” does. However, “reducing speed” might be a bit more explicit and perhaps used more when you want to emphasize the deliberate action of lowering the velocity.
Slowing down
“Slowing down” is actually a phrasal verb that is very commonly used interchangeably with “slowing”. For example, “The train is slowing down before it reaches the station.” It has the same basic meaning of the speed decreasing and is often used in everyday language to describe the process of something losing its speed. The addition of “down” just gives it a bit more of a sense of the direction of the change, emphasizing that the speed is going from a higher level to a lower one.
These synonyms all share the general idea of making something move or operate at a slower rate, but they have their own nuances and are more suitable for different contexts depending on whether you want to be more technical, emphasize the cause of the slowdown, or use a more common, everyday expression.