緩む

1. Origins, structure, and basic meaning

• Structure: 緩む is read as ゆるむ and is an intransitive verb meaning that something taut loosens or that tension or intensity eases.
• Basic usage: Shoelaces loosening appears in 靴ひもが緩む, while tension easing appears in 緊張が緩む.

2. Common pitfalls and similar expressions

• Physical and abstract change
  • It covers both a physical loss of tightness in a cord and an abstract reduction in tension among people.
• Difference from 緩める
  • 緩める is transitive and presents someone loosening a cord or easing tension, whereas 緩む presents the resulting change.