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
• escalate
• enlarge
• soar
• appear
• emerge
• mount
• pick up
• wax
• snowball
• balloon
• burgeon
• mushroom
• show up
• lengthen
• bourgeon
• distend
• elongate
• blow up

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

In severe periodontitis cases, the gums recede below the gumline, exposing the roots of the teeth.24 Stages of Gum Disease Gum disease is a chronic (long-term) condition that develops over time. —Mark Gurarie, Health, 29 May 2025

But few knew the man behind the man-child: ‘Pee-wee as Himself,’ a two-part documentary directed by Matt Wolf on HBO, supplies a vivid portrait of Paul Reubens, who receded behind his character. —Yvonne Villarreal, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025

That could change—Trump could morph into a more normal president, the radical cuts and dramatic rise in tariffs could recede or retreat, but unless that happens, or some other statewide issue rises up, this will be a referendum on Trump more than anything. —Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025

Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Australia’s central bank cut its policy rate by 25 basis points to the lowest in two years as inflation concerns in the country continue to recede, giving room for the bank to ease monetary policy. —Lim Hui Jie,anniek Bao, CNBC, 20 May 2025