as in decreased
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually
as the years went by, the public's interest in the murder case fell away
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Recent Examples of fell away
Old differences fell away, and the two got along well.
—
Alex Ross, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
But, in the process, the funding fell away, Davis said.
—Debra Skodack, Kansas City Star, 10 Mar. 2026
The specks of warmth salvaged from the inside of the patrol car, which had clung to his skin under his gray sweatpants and hooded striped sweatshirt, soon fell away.
—USA Today, 8 Mar. 2026
Midway through a steep sidehill, with a tough right turn at the bottom, racers had to fight to find the fastest line into a hard right turn as the mountain fell away in the other direction.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
Nuñez joined DeSantis for the unveiling, with the two standing on opposite sides of the covered statue before the shroud fell away.
—Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
The Broncos trailed just 43-41 at halftime but fell away throughout the second half, making just six field goals in the final 20 minutes.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2026
Video of the moment posted on TikTok showed Malone raising his cup and leaning over, as the edge of the stage fell away during the Arizona show.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Jan. 2026
Safeguards fell away — removed intentionally to insure residents in need did not go hungry.
—Jonah Kaplan, CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025
Alex Ross, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
But, in the process, the funding fell away, Davis said.
—Debra Skodack, Kansas City Star, 10 Mar. 2026
The specks of warmth salvaged from the inside of the patrol car, which had clung to his skin under his gray sweatpants and hooded striped sweatshirt, soon fell away.
—USA Today, 8 Mar. 2026
Midway through a steep sidehill, with a tough right turn at the bottom, racers had to fight to find the fastest line into a hard right turn as the mountain fell away in the other direction.
—Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 15 Feb. 2026
Nuñez joined DeSantis for the unveiling, with the two standing on opposite sides of the covered statue before the shroud fell away.
—Garrett Shanley, Miami Herald, 6 Feb. 2026
The Broncos trailed just 43-41 at halftime but fell away throughout the second half, making just six field goals in the final 20 minutes.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 31 Jan. 2026
Video of the moment posted on TikTok showed Malone raising his cup and leaning over, as the edge of the stage fell away during the Arizona show.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Jan. 2026
Safeguards fell away — removed intentionally to insure residents in need did not go hungry.
—Jonah Kaplan, CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fell away
Verb
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The number of Democratic-majority Congressional Districts in North Texas decreased from three to two.—
Jack Fink,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2026
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Over all grade levels, enrollment has decreased by about 875 students in the last 12 years while staff levels rose by 185 members.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Only a shadow of these forests’ old-growth trees remain as their second-growth progeny continue to be felled.—
Evan Mills,
Mercury News,
15 Mar. 2026
-
In Greek tragedies, the hero is felled by a fatal flaw.—
Maer Roshan,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Homelessness is a subject that cuts to the core of Mamdani’s vision of a New York where safety and inclusivity are not in conflict, where the quality of life in the city is improved and not diminished by one’s proximity to fellow New Yorkers.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2026
-
None of that diminished its appeal to America’s enemies.—
Adam Ciralsky,
Vanity Fair,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Robinhood’s stock fell 90% in 2022 as the meme stock mania subsided and then flatlined.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Her depression subsided not long after.—
Jamie Ducharme,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The analysis showed bacterial diversity recovered the fastest in the first two years after people took antibiotics; the rate of recovery tapered off after that point.—
Lori Youmshajekian,
Scientific American,
11 Mar. 2026
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After the initial surge following the Tuesday Instagram post upping the reward, the number of calls to the sheriff's department has tapered off, sources said.—
Aaron Katersky,
ABC News,
26 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fell away.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fell%20away. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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