Synonyms of recede

recede

verb

ri-ˈsēd 

1

as in to subside

to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually

the sound of sirens receded as the fire engines roared off into the distance

Synonyms & Similar Words

• subside
• diminish
• decrease
• vanish
• fall
• shrink
• decline
• ease
• wane
• ebb
• dwindle
• moderate
• relent
• abate
• die (away or down or out)
• taper
• lessen
• evaporate
• drop (off)
• weaken
• fall away
• drain (away)
• pall
• taper off
• remit
• let up
• lower
• phase down
• ratchet (down)
• rachet (down)
• de-escalate
• collapse
• compress
• constrict
• relax
• slacken
• alleviate
• fade (away)
• condense
• slow (down)
• tail (off)
• melt (away)
• peter (out)
• contract
• give out
• sink
• fritter (away)
• deflate
• cave (in)
• flag

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rise
• grow
• increase
• intensify
• build
• expand
• accumulate
• swell
• enlarge
• escalate
• appear
• soar
• emerge
• mount
• pick up
• wax
• show up
• burgeon
• snowball
• lengthen
• balloon
• mushroom
• elongate
• blow up
• distend

2

as in to withdraw

to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable)

after the rain stops, the floodwaters should gradually recede

Synonyms & Similar Words

• withdraw
• retreat
• retire
• flee
• fall back
• pull out
• evacuate
• drop back
• give way
• back away
• shrink
• lose ground
• fly
• give ground
• leave
• flinch
• detach
• go
• depart
• recoil
• disengage
• abandon
• chicken (out)
• vacate
• climb down
• disentangle
• pull away
• back down
• bow out
• backtrack
• quit
• backpedal

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• advance
• confront
• face
• dare
• breast
• defy
• beard
• brave
• outbrave
• brazen

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb recede contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of recede are back, retract, and retreat. While all these words mean "to move backward," recede implies a gradual withdrawing from a forward or high fixed point in time or space.

the flood waters gradually receded

In what contexts can back take the place of recede?

The meanings of back and recede largely overlap; however, back is used with up, down, out, or off to refer to any retrograde motion.

backed off on the throttle

When could retract be used to replace recede?

In some situations, the words retract and recede are roughly equivalent. However, retract implies drawing back from an extended position.

a cat retracting its claws

When would retreat be a good substitute for recede?

While the synonyms retreat and recede are close in meaning, retreat implies withdrawal from a point or position reached.

retreating soldiers

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of recede

The post-pandemic crime wave has receded, and then some. —Henry Grabar, The Atlantic, 21 Jan. 2026

Reporter Jordyn Holman tells the stories of Black women who are leaning on each other for support as career paths—from the federal government to corporate DEI—recede. —Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 20 Jan. 2026

That talk receded for a time, but in recent weeks the president has renewed his desire to take control of the world's largest island that is not its own continent. —John C. Moritz, Austin American Statesman, 18 Jan. 2026

The Dardennes may be getting older, but their concern for society’s most fragile hasn’t receded with age. —Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026