as in retrogressing
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1
as in subsiding
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually
the sound of sirens receded as the fire engines roared off into the distance
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in retreating
to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable)
after the rain stops, the floodwaters should gradually recede
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Recent Examples of receding
Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2026
Water is receding, but Narsesian said levels are still high and the ice still is out there.
—Sarah Brumfield, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
The newspaper reported on Wednesday that floodwaters had been receding but that some properties were still submerged and could be at risk from the floating ice.
—Adam England, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
Water levels on the Des Plaines campus are receding, but the college needs permission from the Illinois Department of Transportation to reopen.
—Todd Feurer, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Area rivers are all on a very gradual, downward trend but many will still be at the flood stage when Thursday’s system rolls through, according to King, who added that the rain will likely slow, if not halt those receding levels.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
Then there’s the (guests-only) pool, where you’ll be met with bright yellow-and-white beach chairs and umbrellas, and a receding shallow end reminiscent of the nearby shore.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2026
First of all, one now programs the countdown function via the lower pusher on the side of the case, and the countdown minute- and seconds-hands now turn counterclockwise, which is a more intuitive configuration for tracking receding time.
—Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 14 Apr. 2026
But the groundwater has been receding at an alarming rate, and some wells have to be dug as deep as 150 meters (nearly 500 feet) to reach it.
—ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
Verb
That ambiguity has encouraged some investors and companies to believe that the era of geopolitics dominating cross-border economic activity may be receding.
—Dewardric L. McNeal, CNBC, 28 Apr. 2026
Water is receding, but Narsesian said levels are still high and the ice still is out there.
—Sarah Brumfield, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026
The newspaper reported on Wednesday that floodwaters had been receding but that some properties were still submerged and could be at risk from the floating ice.
—Adam England, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
Water levels on the Des Plaines campus are receding, but the college needs permission from the Illinois Department of Transportation to reopen.
—Todd Feurer, CBS News, 22 Apr. 2026
Area rivers are all on a very gradual, downward trend but many will still be at the flood stage when Thursday’s system rolls through, according to King, who added that the rain will likely slow, if not halt those receding levels.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 21 Apr. 2026
Then there’s the (guests-only) pool, where you’ll be met with bright yellow-and-white beach chairs and umbrellas, and a receding shallow end reminiscent of the nearby shore.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2026
First of all, one now programs the countdown function via the lower pusher on the side of the case, and the countdown minute- and seconds-hands now turn counterclockwise, which is a more intuitive configuration for tracking receding time.
—Allen Farmelo, Robb Report, 14 Apr. 2026
But the groundwater has been receding at an alarming rate, and some wells have to be dug as deep as 150 meters (nearly 500 feet) to reach it.
—ABC News, 13 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for receding
Noun
-
To gently keep birds out of your planters, check them often and use subtle deterrents like peppermint cotton balls or shiny hanging strips.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
9 May 2026
-
The museum has created a garden-like setting with romantic hanging florals, barriers of green hedges, pots of lavender and a carpet resembling mossy bricks.—
Oscar Holland,
CNN Money,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Breezy winds return on Tuesday after subsiding somewhat on Monday.—
Rachael Jay,
CBS News,
2 May 2026
-
But there were no signs that the conflict was subsiding.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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That deadlock prompted an unusually long recess of nearly 90 minutes that was followed by a 6-0 vote in favor of retreating on the bus stops.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 May 2026
-
Many of them have been linked to retreating glaciers, as melting ice destabilizes the mountains and land that had been covered for centuries.—
Ella Nilsen,
CNN Money,
6 May 2026
Noun
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Even after weeks of drying winds, the crackly leaves worked themselves into every corner and declivity.—
Annie Proulx,
New Yorker,
10 Aug. 2025
Verb
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As recently reported through KPBS, this progress has led to rents decreasing by about 5%.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
-
Several years ago, MLB and Commissioner Rob Manfred enacted changes meant to speed up the game through better pace of play, keeping the same amount of action in baseball while decreasing the time each game took to finish.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
Verb
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The Cabinet discussed—and George III supported—withdrawing from the coastal colonies entirely in favor of the Caribbean.—
Daniel Immerwahr,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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Two top Republican lawmakers expressed concern about the Pentagon withdrawing 5,000 troops from Germany.—
Kayla Hayempour,
NBC news,
4 May 2026
Adjective
-
Three other vehicles with human drivers then appeared to illegally pass the stopped bus.—
Keri Heath,
Austin American Statesman,
3 Mar. 2026
-
The truck crossed into the eastbound lane and crashed into the stopped Kia, striking the three pedestrians, CHP said.—
Aidin Vaziri,
San Francisco Chronicle,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
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An earlier study, published in the American Economic Journal, found that field-office closures led to a sixteen-per-cent decline in disability recipients in the surrounding areas.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
7 May 2026
-
The clues are all in his writing, the structure of the sentence, the tracking of it, the fast decline into being inebriated.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Receding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/receding. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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