RECEDES Synonyms: 117 Similar and Opposite Words

recedes

verb

present tense third-person singular of recede

as in subsides

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in withdraws

to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable) after the rain stops, the floodwaters should gradually recede

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 recedes The New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife said dogfish and other small sharks commonly forage close to shore during the summer and can become trapped near sandbars as the tide recedes, according to ABC6. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 14 Aug. 2026 But when this latest surge plateaus or recedes, the game could well be up. — Michael B. G. Froman, Foreign Affairs, 13 Aug. 2026 In Meyer’s hands, the adventuress sometimes recedes into a functionary. — David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026 Volume loss in the genital area can also occur in the mons pubis and labia majora as subcutaneous fat recedes with treatment. — Jesse Pines, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026 But, even with the end so near, my thoughts turn ahead to preparations for another trip when the water recedes a bit. — Ralph Tuttle, Outdoor Life, 25 June 2026 So far, Arens has been surprised by how quickly native vegetation resumes life as the water recedes, in some places as soon as two or three years. — Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 7 June 2026 The dark hue recedes, letting your eyes focus on the scenery outside. — Gary Thompson, Midwest Living, 5 June 2026 But when the processions disperse, the city returns to its usual arrangements and the permission recedes with the crowd. — Vogue, 1 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for recedes

Verb

The brutal nausea and vomiting of norovirus, for instance, subsides in one to three days; even the relentless diarrhea of cyclosporiasis can let up in a couple of days with an antibiotic.

— Erica Sloan, Washington Post, 12 Aug. 2026
That said, living in the South means there’s still a ways to go before the heat subsides, and until then, breathable summer staples will continue to define my outfits.

— Kate Boswell, Southern Living, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of subsides

Verb

Screening cover diminishes, and the birds will almost always be in lowland covers that offer both security and food.

— Tom Huggler, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026
When your nervous system becomes overwhelmed, your ability to access your best thinking, empathy, creativity and judgment diminishes.

— Sharon A. Kuhn, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of diminishes

Verb

As his mind retreats to the hues of old movies, Charlotte breaks the fog with a glimmer of humanity.

— Andy Andersen, Vulture, 7 Aug. 2026
The gunman briefly retreats, then returns to the window and fires inside the restaurant again, injuring a good Samaritan who was trying to help the trooper and render aid to Garibay.

— Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of retreats

Verb

If the vehicle slows significantly below the required speed, the normal force between its tires and the tunnel surface decreases, increasing the risk of losing contact.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 18 Aug. 2026
Research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology shows that AI adoption in manufacturing initially decreases productivity before ultimately helping workers achieve long-term gains.

— Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of decreases

Verb

The first component of the payments, known as the normal cost, is the calculation of how much the public agency and employees must contribute to ensure there are sufficient funds after investment returns to pay pensions when a worker retires.

— Daniel Borenstein, Mercury News, 11 Aug. 2026
The kind that walks out the door when somebody retires or leaves and is extraordinarily slow and expensive to rebuild, if it can be rebuilt at all.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of retires

Verb

Years after walking away from the FBI, Fox Mulder and Dana Scully are pulled back from the shadows when a federal agent vanishes without a trace.

— ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2026
If the human vanishes at the moment of execution, then fraud, repudiation, and abuse all become easier to scale.

— Raj Ananthanpillai, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of vanishes

Verb

This park also falls along the Rio Grande and includes mountainous terrain with tall cliffs and a desert landscape.

— Ashley Killough, CNN Money, 19 Aug. 2026
Balance is critical in helping older adults prevent falls — and it’s now considered a marker for longevity.

— Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2026