waning 1 of 3

adjective

as in declining

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waning

2 of 3

noun

as in fading

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

waning

3 of 3

verb

present participle of wane
as in decreasing
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually in the course of the evening the storm steadily waned

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 waning
Adjective
Even better, the peak of this shower, which should produce on average between 8 to 10 meteors per hour, will arrive under dark skies thanks to a meager waning crescent moon. — Michael D'estries, Travel + Leisure, 16 Jan. 2026
Noun
But Trumpism is also what Gramsci called a morbid symptom of the interregnum, an expression of a country riven by political polarization and by economic inequity, and struggling to come to terms with the waning of its singular status. — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 17 Sep. 2026 Nervous excitement waxed in time with the waning of the solar crescent, which grew thinner with each minute as the moon's silhouette sank ever deeper into the sun. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2026 There's enough of a waning in immunity that six months after your initial infection in the winter, people tend to get another maybe less robust, less severe infection in the summer. — Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2026 There’s the decline in regular religious attendance, which now stands at 34 percent, and the corresponding waning of associated ceremonies. — John Semley, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026 But Wells points out that in addition to the natural waning of the virus, other public health measures, such as vaccination and isolation, are instrumental in stopping its spread. — Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 21 Aug. 2025
Verb
Iran’s ability to choke off regional oil exports, however, appears to be waning. — Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 22 Oct. 2026 In addition, scientists in Bangladesh are studying why immunity is waning faster than expected in babies up to 6 months or so. — Reuters, NBC news, 19 Oct. 2026 In addition, scientists in Bangladesh are studying why immunity is waning faster than expected in babies up to six months or so. — Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026 Canada banged awkwardly into Williams’ knee on a box out during her late free throws and the Valkyries star was being cared for by an athletic trainer on the bench in the waning moments. — Janie McCauley, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026 Missouri was also 1-for-3 on red-zone scoring, including Simmons throwing a pick in the waning minutes of the game. — Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2026 The network had struggled in the waning years under General Electric’s ownership. — Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 17 Oct. 2026 It is believed to have been purchased by composer Charles Burney in the waning years of the eighteenth century and passed down to his heirs. — News Desk, Artforum, 15 Oct. 2026 Interest in Netflix’s existing series is showing signs of waning too, with many returning series posting season-to-season viewership declines. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waning
  1. declining
  2. fading
  3. decreasing
  4. dying
  5. wilting
  6. diminishing
  7. failing
  8. ebbing
Adjective
  • While pruning, remove any winter damage, along with dead and declining growths, to allow new shoots to reform the plant.
    — Tom MacCubbin, orlandosentinel.com, 6 Mar. 2021
  • In order to reopen, counties must demonstrate declining prevalence of COVID-19, testing ability of 30 tests per 10,000 residents per week, contact tracing and isolation facilities.
    — Fox News, Fox News, 15 May 2020
Definition of declining
Noun
  • Each wash style, such as vintage fading or worn-in details, is digitally designed and dyed directly into flat pattern pieces before they’re cut and sewn.
    — Jennifer Bringle, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The researchers have reported no obvious fading or known side effects from his own tattoos after more than two years.
    — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of fading
Verb
  • Increasing exercise and decreasing calories while focusing on building muscle mass may help.
    — Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • Oil companies realized that many employees were off sick with malaria, decreasing their productivity.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of decreasing
Adjective
  • What’s the vibe for you, post-dying?
    — Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 22 June 2026
  • Garden centers aren't giving a refund for a dying or dead plant but rather a discount on a new purchase.
    — Lauren David, Southern Living, 17 Dec. 2025
Definition of dying
Noun
  • Over-fertilization stresses your lawn, causing yellowing, wilting, and weak roots that struggle to absorb water.
    — Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Fertilizers leave behind salts in the soil that can pull moisture out of root tissue and cause wilting, yellowing, and eventual browning of leaves.
    — Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of wilting
Verb
  • Kikuchi makes Haru’s occasionally mortifying romantic pursuit both funny and affecting, embracing the character’s impulsive, sometimes ridiculous behavior without diminishing the depth of her loss.
    — Lisa Wong Macabasco, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026
  • The good news is that its strongest winds and heaviest rain will remain over the Atlantic, with impacts along our coastline gradually diminishing.
    — Kate Bilo, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of diminishing
Adjective
  • The World Bank, International Monetary Fund and International Criminal Court, which all got failing grades in last year's survey, saw the biggest gains.
    — Andrea Shalal, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The state graded the campus an F for three consecutive years, meaning two more failing grades could trigger an intervention.
    — Noah Alcala Bach, San Antonio Express-News, 1 Jan. 2026
Definition of failing
Noun
  • As forcible mobilisation grows to fill Ukraine’s ebbing ranks, so will anger at the presidency and military.
    — Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
  • What's more, CEOs say there are no signs of consumer demand ebbing.
    — Doug Gollan, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Definition of ebbing

Browse Nearby Words

wangling
waning
wannabe
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Cite this Entry

“Waning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waning. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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