as in deterioration
a change to a lower state or level
a surprising ebb in the quality of workmanship in goods coming from that country
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to deteriorate
to become worse or of less value
the fortunes of the town slowly ebbed as factory after textile factory closed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to decrease
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually
the howling winds ebbed as the hurricane moved into the interior
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ebb
Olivia Le Poidevin, USA Today, 5 Dec. 2025
In an interview with a Taiwanese reporter, Lou explained that most of An Unfinished Film was shot in 2021, during an ebb in the pandemic.
—Yangyang Cheng, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025
Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Dec. 2025
Finland still reads the Declaration of Christmas Peace each Christmas Eve – a ceremonial reminder of an older hope that violence might briefly ebb.
—Andrew Latham, The Conversation, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ebb
Noun
Ben Robertson, a Eurovision expert from fan website ESC Insight, said the contest's integrity was at its lowest ebb.
—Olivia Le Poidevin, USA Today, 5 Dec. 2025
In an interview with a Taiwanese reporter, Lou explained that most of An Unfinished Film was shot in 2021, during an ebb in the pandemic.
—Yangyang Cheng, NPR, 4 Oct. 2025
Verb
In the years since its release, the original Back to the Future has barely ebbed in popularity.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Dec. 2025
Finland still reads the Declaration of Christmas Peace each Christmas Eve – a ceremonial reminder of an older hope that violence might briefly ebb.
—Andrew Latham, The Conversation, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ebb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ebb
Noun
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Footage of the bunker’s deterioration has attracted global attention after Robinson and Charlton began posting videos online.—
Kaif Shaikh,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Jan. 2026
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It is intended to slow the deterioration of streets that currently are in good condition, which is considered vital to improving the overall condition of San Diego’s network of roads, according to the city.—
Ashley Mackin Solomon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Soon, the retailer lacked an adequate assortment to drive sales, leading the situation to deteriorate.—
Gabrielle Fonrouge,
CNBC,
15 Jan. 2026
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After a day of testing and her health deteriorating, doctors ultimately determined that Gorman was suffering a spinal stroke.—
Vanessa Etienne,
PEOPLE,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Newsom claims homelessness decline Newsom during his final State of the State address Thursday claimed the state’s homeless population decreased last year.—
Theresa Clift,
Sacbee.com,
10 Jan. 2026
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Meanwhile, the number of job openings have decreased nearly 10% on the year to 729,000 in the September to November period from a year ago, the ONS found.—
Sawdah Bhaimiya,
CNBC,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The report describes a kind of doom loop of AI dependence, where students increasingly off-load their own thinking onto the technology, leading to the kind of cognitive decline or atrophy more commonly associated with aging brains.—
Cory Turner,
NPR,
14 Jan. 2026
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The 11 citations represents a sharp decline from just months earlier.—
Mathew Miranda
January 14,
Sacbee.com,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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That criticism scene is where the Knausgaard/Kristian simulacrum begins to crumble.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Jan. 2026
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And behind every man with a good name and a crumbling pile, there’s a wife shrewdly attending to the seating plan.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Mariners traversing the bar are urged to exercise extreme caution or stay in port until the threat subsides.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Jan. 2026
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These findings have prompted the development of interventions designed to create time and space between an individual’s suicidal impulse and access to firearms, allowing acute urges to subside.—
Russell Lemle,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Nachmanoff pressed the Justice Department over whether a formal declination memo deciding against charges for Comey exists.—
Ella Lee,
The Hill,
19 Nov. 2025
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McLaughlin characterized the Fullerton officer’s response as a declination to help.—
Sierra van der Brug,
Oc Register,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The city said the decision was a result of several years worth of mounting safety concerns, ordinance violations and residential complaints about the vacant structure’s worsening state.—
Anna Ortiz,
Chicago Tribune,
10 Jan. 2026
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The immense costs associated with the program have only worsened the economic situation, leading to a more stifling environment.—
Isaac Chotiner,
New Yorker,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ebb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ebb. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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