taper off

verb

Definition of taper offnext
as in to decrease
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 taper off However, Brissett's play tapered off after he was hobbled by a knee injury. — James Boyd, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026 Activity scheduling generally follows daily circadian rhythms, so more intensive experiences are clustered in the mornings, with a smattering in the afternoon that tapers off in time for slow sunset yoga or meditation. — Jessica Ritz, Travel + Leisure, 30 Aug. 2026 Humidity should taper off by Friday as new weather patterns arrive from the Great Plains and southern Canada. — Caden Perry, jsonline.com, 29 Aug. 2026 Any lingering precipitation should taper off by evening as skies gradually clear and temperatures fall into the mid-60s overnight. — The Baltimore Sun, Baltimore Sun, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for taper off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taper off
  1. decrease
  2. diminish
  3. subside
  4. decline
  5. fall away
  6. fall
  7. ease
Verb
  • Deaths from the virus have decreased by 36% in the past decade.
    — Philip A. Chan, STAT, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Academics and researchers have proposed a wide variety of causes for the crisis, like changes in the economy, decreasing social connections, access to firearms, and the pandemic.
    — Darius Tahir, CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of decrease
Verb
  • When every decision requires multiple levels of authorization, ownership naturally diminishes.
    — Guy Yehiav, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • And where does the water come from for these 10 new cities as the West scrambles for what’s left of diminishing supplies?
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of diminish
Verb
  • When ground ice melts and water drains away, the surface can subside.
    — Ming Xiao, The Conversation, 29 Sep. 2026
  • The months-long battle was bitter and hard fought and enmity within the industry has yet to subside.
    — Stacy Perman, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of subside
Verb
  • When Albin returned to the question of which country posed the greater threat to American interests, el Sayed again declined to choose between them, arguing that both had demonstrated the capacity to cause harm.
    — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Courtesy of Heineken, 2026 Caton declined to say how many European jobs will go, citing ongoing consultation with staff and the European Works Council.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of decline
Verb
  • The gatekeepers who controlled which stories were told to the wider public are falling away.
    — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Their floodlights were opened with a visit by a Manchester United XI in 1989 and a substantial clubhouse was opened by Sir Alex Ferguson in 1995, but attendances fell away and the ground had no host club.
    — Andy Mitten, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of fall away
Verb
  • On the price front, China's residential prices have already fallen by 22% since a 2021 peak, compared with a 67% drop in Japan's after a far greater run-up in prices, the S&P report said.
    — Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Insider buying fell 18% to 1,290 buyers, down from 1,580 in the second quarter.
    — Morgan Chittum, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of fall
Verb
  • Another catalyst could come in December, when CHIPS Act funding restrictions ease, allowing Micron to deploy its growing cash pile toward a significant buyback .
    — Alexa LoMonaco,Jeff Nash, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Bolsonaro has called for easing environmental rules and allowing farming or mining on Indigenous lands, raising concern that forest loss could increase even if current restrictions remain technically intact.
    — Gabriela Sá Pessoa, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of ease

Browse Nearby Words

tapering off
taper off
tapers
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Cite this Entry

“Taper off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taper%20off. Accessed 11 Oct. 2026.

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