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 There will be some periods of heavy rain, especially south of Philadelphia through midday, but right now the rain looks to start to taper off during the afternoon hours. — Grant Gilmore, CBS News, 26 June 2026 Scientists expect auroral activity to taper off significantly by 2027 as the sun gets farther from the peak. — Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 And several of the unflattering stats have tapered off a ton this last year, including sacks taken (27 in 2025, down from 62 in 2023). — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 24 June 2026 In some cases, patients who no longer wish to take the medication because of inconvenience or side effects can slowly taper off, eventually discontinuing medication altogether. — Lev Facher, STAT, 10 June 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
  • Plus, new windows are more energy efficient than old ones, meaning a summer installation can decrease your energy bill now and when temperatures drop in the fall and winter.
    — Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Doubles players fear for their tennis future after being told by the ATP Tour that prize money and tournament sizes will decrease significantly starting in 2028.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026
Definition of decrease
Verb
  • Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 6 July 2026
  • The union said that unresolved complaints made against Hawk and existing climate issues have significantly diminished confidence among many educators.
    — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 6 July 2026
Definition of diminish
Verb
  • Best Linen Pants Deals When blazing-hot afternoons suddenly subside into breezy evenings, linen pants help keep you cool while offering the right amount of coverage.
    — Sophie Dodd, Travel + Leisure, 4 July 2026
  • Investors’ fears of Anthropic’s Mythos model, which was launched in April, upending all cybersecurity software businesses, have since subsided.
    — Kirk Ogunrinde, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Definition of subside
Verb
  • After years of declining sales, American Girl dolls are seeing a resurgence.
    — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • In May, during a tense commission meeting, a majority of commissioners declined to give her a raise after her first year on the job.
    — Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026
Definition of decline
Verb
  • But over the 99 minutes of gameplay, some of those similarities fell away.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 23 June 2026
  • For Bebe Rexha, her new album Dirty Blonde is built in that shift—where structure falls away and instinct takes over.
    — Desjah Altvater, Forbes.com, 11 June 2026
Definition of fall away
Verb
  • The woman fell about 1,500 vertical feet, from around 12,000 feet to about 11,500 feet.
    — Daniel S. Levine, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
  • The report will also provide insight into whether American workers’ paychecks are falling further behind inflation.
    — Rachel Barber, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Definition of fall
Verb
  • Despite hot, humid conditions, a respectable crowd has already gathered, with organizers expecting attendance to grow as temperatures ease later this evening.
    — Kyla Guilfoil, NBC news, 5 July 2026
  • This would let traffic flow, which is so necessary for the vitality and economy of Chicago; provide a safer route for bikers; and ease the frustration of all of those on the streets of Chicago.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 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 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on taper off

Nglish: Translation of taper off for Spanish Speakers

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