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
Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Not when Kate is receding into the background, like Homer Simpson into his hedge.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 Jan. 2026
To the south near the San Francisco Bay Area, waters were slowly receding after roadways from Sausalito to San Rafael were flooded during heavy rain that coincided with record-breaking King Tides.
—Dallas Morning News, 4 Jan. 2026
Many perennials fizzle out in late autumn, shedding leaves, dropping stems, and receding underground for a long winter's nap.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Dec. 2025
The water Bud heard crash through Sutter County’s last line of defense would claim 37 lives, by some estimates, and strand countless more before receding out of the flood-prone land once known as an inland sea.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 23 Dec. 2025
With the great infectious threats receding, researchers turned toward chronic disease.
—Time, 19 Dec. 2025
Already near collapse, the Cuban economy continues to contract, and previous gains in education and health care are receding memories.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
At the same time, a patchwork of low-lying areas across western Washington remain filled with slowly receding floodwaters.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 16 Dec. 2025
Verb
Other extant primates typically have receding lower jaws, without a distinct protrusion.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Not when Kate is receding into the background, like Homer Simpson into his hedge.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 Jan. 2026
To the south near the San Francisco Bay Area, waters were slowly receding after roadways from Sausalito to San Rafael were flooded during heavy rain that coincided with record-breaking King Tides.
—Dallas Morning News, 4 Jan. 2026
Many perennials fizzle out in late autumn, shedding leaves, dropping stems, and receding underground for a long winter's nap.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 Dec. 2025
The water Bud heard crash through Sutter County’s last line of defense would claim 37 lives, by some estimates, and strand countless more before receding out of the flood-prone land once known as an inland sea.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 23 Dec. 2025
With the great infectious threats receding, researchers turned toward chronic disease.
—Time, 19 Dec. 2025
Already near collapse, the Cuban economy continues to contract, and previous gains in education and health care are receding memories.
—Foreign Affairs, 16 Dec. 2025
At the same time, a patchwork of low-lying areas across western Washington remain filled with slowly receding floodwaters.
—Evan Bush, NBC news, 16 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for receding
Noun
-
Tucked in the back of the store, a book room is a bibliophile’s haven, where shoppers linger among titles warmed by an oversized hanging lamp and retro furniture.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Also included is a coordinating red rope for easy hanging.—
Brittany VanDerBill,
Better Homes & Gardens,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Beyond the curse of high expectations, other headwinds that weighed on Eaton's shares appear to be subsiding, including capacity expansion.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
31 Dec. 2025
-
Hurricane conditions are occurring within the warning area in Cuba but expected to begin subsiding this afternoon.—
MIAMI HERALD HURRICANE BOT,
Miami Herald,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The film’s opening stretch whizzes along as Charli — a natural, engaging actor — is dragged from one banal, vaguely embarrassing meeting or negotiation to another, sketchy vignettes usually punctuated at their close by Charli putting on her dark sunglasses and retreating back inward.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Trump’s remarks Wednesday, suddenly retreating from his threat of military force, could mitigate some of the damage inflicted on Washington’s most cherished relationships.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
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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Supports Heart Health Magnesium and turmeric together may reduce the risk of heart disease by decreasing inflammation, improving circulation, and supporting cardiovascular function.—
Lindsay Curtis,
Verywell Health,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Back then, debasement was done by decreasing the amount of precious metals within gold and silver coins that were used as currency and increasing the amount of cheaper base metals, like copper.—
Davis Giangiulio,
CNBC,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Uhlaender accused the Canadian team and its coach, Joe Cecchini, of intentionally withdrawing the athletes, deliberately manipulating the field to benefit one of their own sliders’ bids for qualification.—
Don Riddell,
CNN Money,
26 Jan. 2026
-
In so doing, avoid withdrawing NATO’s commitment to defend NATO member states’ remote, former (and, in the case of Cyprus, coincidentally insular) colonial territories was thus established as a norm for the alliance, not an exception – one that is newly relevant once again.—
Barry Scott Zellen,
Hartford Courant,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
One clip appears to show a Waymo vehicle stopped while other vehicles illegally pass a stopped bus.—
Karoline Leonard,
Austin American Statesman,
15 Jan. 2026
-
That's when a 51-year-old woman driving a Tesla south on Highway 85 struck the Focus, causing both cars to spin and crash into a stopped semi-truck.—
Austen Erblat,
CBS News,
31 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Mixing and juxtaposing voices, lingos, and tones, [Dylan] traces the decline of America over the trajectory of his own lifetime through the kaleidoscope of the Kennedy assassination.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Despite the beat, total revenue fell 3 percent year over year, marking the company’s first annual decline.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Receding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/receding. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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