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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of ebb
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
27 May 2026
Armas pointed to the ebbs and flows of development throughout the year.
—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
20 May 2026
Zackery Cuevas,
PC Magazine,
11 June 2026
That number has fluctuated from a high of 115,000 in May to a low of about 16,000 on the day before this column was published, ebbing and flowing as tickets were purchased, new batches were released and FIFA (maybe) pulled back others.
—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ebb
Noun
Throughout its history the company has gone through the ebbs and flows of the jewelry sector, impacted to various extents by wars, macroeconomic volatility and geopolitical disruption.
—
Martino Carrera,
Footwear News,
27 May 2026
Armas pointed to the ebbs and flows of development throughout the year.
—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
20 May 2026
Verb
The entire sequence was set to a raucous jazz score that also seemed to ebb and flow with the combat's rhythm.
—
Zackery Cuevas,
PC Magazine,
11 June 2026
That number has fluctuated from a high of 115,000 in May to a low of about 16,000 on the day before this column was published, ebbing and flowing as tickets were purchased, new batches were released and FIFA (maybe) pulled back others.
—
Eben Novy-Williams,
Sportico.com,
10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for ebb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ebb
Noun
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The National Institute of Standards and Technology said long-term corrosion and the failure of multiple slab-to-column connections likely contributed to a progressive collapse after weeks of structural deterioration.
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Heston is at his most gleefully cynical as Robert Thorn, a police detective who lives and works in a New York City decimated by environmental deterioration and dwindling resources.
Verb
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For the decades after the historic Old Soldiers’ Home was shut down in the 1970s, the two-thirds of the campus north of Wilshire Boulevard remained a collection of vacant deteriorating buildings and residential programs for physical and mental health recovery.
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However, the strategy itself has been flawed, often prioritizing roads in excellent condition while allowing moderately deteriorating streets to fail completely.
Verb
-
This risk decreases as the storm moves away.
-
Yet burnout is associated with emotional exhaustion, cynicism, reduced motivation, sleep problems, and decreased enjoyment of previously pleasurable activities.
Noun
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That window is shorter than most executives assume, as mental and physical declines often begin earlier than midlife, while the leader still feels fully capable and engaged.
-
The decline in energy prices is easing inflation concerns, which has helped push the 10-year Treasury yield down roughly 9 basis points.
Verb
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Yet robust economic growth has proved elusive, even as government debt has climbed, leaving successive administrations with little firepower to fix a growing list of related challenges, from crumbling infrastructure to a chronic housing shortage.
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All of this was a source of ongoing friction; and the glue that held the USSR together, military might and communist ideology, had been crumbling for some time.
Verb
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Shinnecock Hills did its part, even after the strongest wind subsided.
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While the most intense combat has subsided, Israeli forces have continued launching airstrikes and opening fire on Palestinians, leaving more than 1,000 people dead since the ceasefire began in October, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
Noun
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The Phillies, off to an even worse start at 9-19, relieved Rob Thomson of his managerial duties Tuesday, and with Cora’s declination, named bench coach Don Mattingly interim skipper.
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The declinations came as the DOJ reassigned and cut prosecutors working on environmental cases.
Verb
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On top of the usual risks that come with surgery, a botched revision can mean permanent scarring, loss of nasal support, worsened breathing, or a result that's structurally too compromised to correct again.
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Pulmonary fibrosis is a lung disease that worsens over time and occurs when lung tissue becomes damaged and scarred, according to Mayo Clinic.
Cite this Entry
“Ebb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ebb. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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