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
Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2025
At their lowest ebb last season, City’s reluctance to make threatening forward runs was visible to the eye, favouring more measured build-up and perhaps reluctant to open up too much with opposition counter-attacks in mind.
—Thom Harris, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2025
Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 21 Sep. 2025
Little ink has been spilled for the Cats as the team takes on the rare task of sharing a field and a spotlight with a major league franchise, and the team’s attendance has ebbed in this first of three seasons sharing Sutter Health Park with the Athletics.
—Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ebb
Noun
Ties reached their lowest ebb in January 2010 after the Israeli security service Mossad dispatched a 27-strong death squad to Dubai to assassinate Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, a senior weapons procurer for Hamas.
—Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2025
At their lowest ebb last season, City’s reluctance to make threatening forward runs was visible to the eye, favouring more measured build-up and perhaps reluctant to open up too much with opposition counter-attacks in mind.
—Thom Harris, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
That boom is ebbing just as the administration’s spastic trade offensives are hammering U.S. ag export prospects over the foreseeable future.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 21 Sep. 2025
Little ink has been spilled for the Cats as the team takes on the rare task of sharing a field and a spotlight with a major league franchise, and the team’s attendance has ebbed in this first of three seasons sharing Sutter Health Park with the Athletics.
—Sacbee.com, 29 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ebb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ebb
Noun
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Mahama’s installations, which say something about societal deterioration, also dramatize the country’s inability to sustain robust funding in the arts or technology in its postindependence years.—
Edna Bonhomme,
Artforum,
1 Oct. 2025
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Indeed, September’s deterioration doesn’t signal the first time the indicator has entered recession territory—it’s been there since February 2025—but marks a further step away from a healthy outlook over a prolonged period of time.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Breaking them down to save for a later date isn’t enough, as bugs will still nestle their way in even as the cardboard deteriorates.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Oct. 2025
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Advertisement Our hygiene deteriorates.—
Eli Sharabi,
Time,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Sesame oil is high in antioxidants that may help decrease the risk of cancer and heart disease, along with reducing joint pain related to arthritis.—
Susan Selasky,
Freep.com,
4 Oct. 2025
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As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Treasury yields fell Wednesday after new data showed a surprise decline in private payrolls, while traders monitored the consequences of the government shutdown after lawmakers failed to reach an agreement on the federal funding bill.—
Sean Conlon,Sawdah Bhaimiya,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
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The company may still boast one of Silicon Valley’s most storied names, but its staff, which numbered 96,000 as of the end of July, had worked for years through nearly uninterrupted decline, watching their company lose nearly all relevance.—
Lila MacLellan,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Mostly sunny and very warm; persistent dry weather will worsen drought conditions through the weekend.—
Alexander Coolidge,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
3 Oct. 2025
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Thompson said the lending skew will ultimately create worsened housing markets.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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There was some concern about Mayfield’s status for the Bucs’ Week 5 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks, but those worries were likely subsided after Mayfield was a full participant in Thursday’s practice.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
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The annexation question appeared to subside for a time afterwards.—
Paula Newton,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Presenting their findings in a lengthy declination memo, the prosecutors explicitly mentioned the two other investigations to bolster their recommendation that probable cause does not exist to charge Comey, according to sources familiar with the contents of the memo.—
Katherine Faulders,
ABC News,
6 Oct. 2025
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On those three dates, variations in the moon's position relative to Earth's equator — particularly its declination — can influence tidal forces that subtly affect Earth's rotation rate.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Verb
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By the end, the old Wembley was best viewed from a distance — ideally 15 or 20 years’ distance as the crumbling concrete and antiquated facilities meant the Empire Stadium belonged in the same bygone era as its official name.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
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The recent protests were triggered by the deaths of several pregnant women following routine C-sections in the coastal city of Agadir, spotlighting the crumbling healthcare system.—
Kara Fox,
CNN Money,
4 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ebb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ebb. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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