1
as in deteriorated
to become worse or of less value
the fortunes of the town slowly ebbed as factory after textile factory closed
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in subsided
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
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 ebbed
Near the end of the show, the stories ebbed in favor of quick punches.
—
Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 25 May 2026
While interest in stakeholder capitalism ebbed amid an ESG backlash and other issues, moral leadership has become increasingly important in an atmosphere of growing distrust, dishonesty, and divisiveness.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 19 May 2026
By the end of the year, the epidemic in Chihuahua state finally ebbed.
—Mary Beth Sheridan, CNN Money, 17 May 2026
And his fascination with Xi hasn’t ebbed.
—Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026
The K-pop concert touring market has ebbed and flowed over the last handful of years.
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026
Admittedly, Hollywood’s infatuation with the festival has ebbed and flowed over the years, but 2026 seems like a rare outlier.
—Gregory Ellwood, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Since then, killings have ebbed from the record high of 81 in 2022.
—Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Online, 8 May 2026
During my second pregnancy and for more than a year after giving birth to my second child, depressive periods ebbed and flowed, growing deeper and longer each time.
—Literary Hub, 5 May 2026
Jed Gottlieb, Boston Herald, 25 May 2026
While interest in stakeholder capitalism ebbed amid an ESG backlash and other issues, moral leadership has become increasingly important in an atmosphere of growing distrust, dishonesty, and divisiveness.
—Diane Brady, Fortune, 19 May 2026
By the end of the year, the epidemic in Chihuahua state finally ebbed.
—Mary Beth Sheridan, CNN Money, 17 May 2026
And his fascination with Xi hasn’t ebbed.
—Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 14 May 2026
The K-pop concert touring market has ebbed and flowed over the last handful of years.
—Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 13 May 2026
Admittedly, Hollywood’s infatuation with the festival has ebbed and flowed over the years, but 2026 seems like a rare outlier.
—Gregory Ellwood, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Since then, killings have ebbed from the record high of 81 in 2022.
—Joseph Flaherty, Arkansas Online, 8 May 2026
During my second pregnancy and for more than a year after giving birth to my second child, depressive periods ebbed and flowed, growing deeper and longer each time.
—Literary Hub, 5 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ebbed
Verb
-
Analysts say the White House would favor a right-wing candidate, and that a victory for either Valencia or de la Espriella would probably mean a return to closer cooperation with Washington on security policy, after relations deteriorated under Petro.—
Catherine Ellis,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2026
-
Regarding their own industries, CEO assessments about current conditions and expectations in six months deteriorated since last quarter.—
Sarah Min,Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
While the heaviest fighting has subsided, the ceasefire has seen almost daily Israeli fire.—
Ahmad Mantash,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
-
The surgery in July 2022 went as planned, and in the early weeks of recovery, nothing appeared out of the ordinary as the swelling gradually subsided.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
The Covid pandemic worsened its financial troubles.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
4 June 2026
-
Two worsened too quickly and the hospital lacked supply for the others, the researchers reported.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Homicides have decreased by roughly 11% from this time in 2025, which ended with a 60-year low in the number of people killed; the city has also had 148 fewer people shot.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
-
This isn’t unique to Sacramento, with Smith noting that an American Alliance of Museums survey found that 55% of museums report decreased traffic.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
As Liam Tharme explains, the strategy employed by Slot at Anfield had faltered badly, if not crumbled completely.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
-
Ivar flattened Psycho Clown in the corner before Psycho crumbled prematurely.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
Polis wrote in his veto letter that the bill would have diminished incentives for fire departments to participate in the Colorado Firefighter Trust, which replaced state workers’ compensation for firefighters’ cancer claims.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
4 June 2026
-
Phosphorus has diminished some.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
In video posted from Kathmandu on Wednesday, Thrall said that the Polish climber was battling frostbite and had descended with the Sherpa guide Thrall was climbing with, leaving Hillary Dawa and him to descend together.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
5 June 2026
-
British climber Chris Thrall, who had descended with Dawa Sherpa from high on the mountain, said the guide stopped briefly to rest during the difficult descent but never caught back up with the group.—
Anthony Thompson,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Piccotto effectively plays the regret of a mother forced to reckon with the loss of a child, the horror of engaging with that child again, while also grappling with her own role as a mother felled by the scourge of addiction.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
-
In a Western Conference Final where a few other key Colorado Avalanche players are already playing through injuries, the NHL’s leading goal scorer this season was felled trying to prevent someone else from scoring.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
25 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ebbed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ebbed. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
