as in decreasing
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually at this time of the year, light begins to taper off a little earlier each day
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tapering off On Saturday, Ventura County could see wind gusts between 20 and 30 mph, and isolated gusts of 40 mph, starting in the mid-morning and tapering off later in the afternoon. —
Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026 Storms may organize along frontal boundaries, continuing into the evening before tapering off. —Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2026 The security line situation could be tapering off. —Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 30 Mar. 2026 Players Era’s rapid expansion plans could be tapering off. —Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 29 Mar. 2026 In Houston’s climate, some pollen may appear as early as January, but concentrations typically peak in early to mid-spring before tapering off. —Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 24 Mar. 2026 The roadside assistance and insurance provider says that fuel economy for most cars peaks at 50 mph before tapering off. —Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026 The storm will make travel in the foothills and mountains difficult on Friday before tapering off Friday night. —Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 6 Mar. 2026 Iran’s missile-and-drone volleys are tapering off somewhat as launchers are destroyed and inventories expended, but Shaheds are so simple that Iran will likely be able to keep manufacturing and firing them in small numbers nearly indefinitely. —Brynn Tannehill, The Atlantic, 4 Mar. 2026
Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026 Storms may organize along frontal boundaries, continuing into the evening before tapering off. —Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2026 The security line situation could be tapering off. —Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 30 Mar. 2026 Players Era’s rapid expansion plans could be tapering off. —Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 29 Mar. 2026 In Houston’s climate, some pollen may appear as early as January, but concentrations typically peak in early to mid-spring before tapering off. —Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 24 Mar. 2026 The roadside assistance and insurance provider says that fuel economy for most cars peaks at 50 mph before tapering off. —Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 16 Mar. 2026 The storm will make travel in the foothills and mountains difficult on Friday before tapering off Friday night. —Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 6 Mar. 2026 Iran’s missile-and-drone volleys are tapering off somewhat as launchers are destroyed and inventories expended, but Shaheds are so simple that Iran will likely be able to keep manufacturing and firing them in small numbers nearly indefinitely. —Brynn Tannehill, The Atlantic, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tapering off
Verb
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Despite being a required vaccine in all states to attend public school, rates have been steadily decreasing over the last decade, CDC data shows.— Arthur Jones II, ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
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Monitoring showed that radionuclides such as cesium spread through coastal waters but became diluted and dispersed over time, with levels in most areas farther out in the ocean decreasing and remaining low and relatively stable after the initial release.— Eduardo B. Farfán, The Conversation, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Murray can breathe a sigh of relief that Nickeil Alexander-Walker left Minnesota for greener pastures in free agency last summer, diminishing the Wolves’ on-ball defensive firepower.— Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 17 Apr. 2026
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Opposition parties warn that basing constituencies on population could shift political power toward faster-growing northern states, while diminishing the parliamentary representation, seat share and overall influence of southern regions.— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But there were no signs that the conflict was subsiding.— ABC News, ABC News, 11 Mar. 2026
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But, by the end of May, the issue was not subsiding.— Evan Grant, Dallas Morning News, 7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Blue Origin The first stage appeared to work flawlessly, shutting down and falling away as planned about three minutes and nine seconds after liftoff.— William Harwood, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2026
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On Wednesday, Mikel Arteta’s side face Bayer Leverkusen, who sit sixth in the Bundesliga after falling away since their famous unbeaten title-winning season in 2023-24.— Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Nuggets refused to engage, declining to respond on the off day.— Troy Renck, Denver Post, 24 Apr. 2026
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Variety is tracking which programs could land on the Emmy ballots, and has once again found a declining pool of eligible series.— Clayton Davis, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The school calendar’s architects also had the benefit of a number of school holidays falling over weekends, including Rosh Hashanah, Diwali and Juneteenth.— Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
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Officials said seven of the victims were struck by gunfire, while others were hurt in the chaos as people scrambled to get down from the pyramids, with some falling during the panic.— Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tapering off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/tapering%20off. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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