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
Ronan Farrow, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Can Hims regrow a receding hairline?
—Rebecca Strong, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
No point hurrying toward a resolution that was always receding.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Or more accurately, receding, like a hairline.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
North Shore Oahu residents who did not evacuate were heartened in the morning by receding waters and moments of blue skies, but more rain was on the way.
—Dallas Morning News, 22 Mar. 2026
Despite fears that tariffs would spur inflation and complicate matters for the Fed, the CPI report shows generally receding costs in goods most impacted by tariffs, and rising prices for key services components such as medical care, airline fares and lodging.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2026
The mini downturn inevitably sparked concerns among the fanbase over whether Chelsea’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League were receding.
—Simon Johnson, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
The team last made the postseason in 2018, and the Ducks’ consistent stretch of hanging banners – the club’s only Stanley Cup title to date in 2007 and five straight division championships from 2012-13 to 2016-17 – was receding further in their rear-view mirror.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
Sutskever, who was born in the Soviet Union in 1986, has a receding hairline, dark eyes, and a habit of pausing, unblinking, while choosing his words.
—Ronan Farrow, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2026
Can Hims regrow a receding hairline?
—Rebecca Strong, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026
No point hurrying toward a resolution that was always receding.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Or more accurately, receding, like a hairline.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
North Shore Oahu residents who did not evacuate were heartened in the morning by receding waters and moments of blue skies, but more rain was on the way.
—Dallas Morning News, 22 Mar. 2026
Despite fears that tariffs would spur inflation and complicate matters for the Fed, the CPI report shows generally receding costs in goods most impacted by tariffs, and rising prices for key services components such as medical care, airline fares and lodging.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 11 Mar. 2026
The mini downturn inevitably sparked concerns among the fanbase over whether Chelsea’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League were receding.
—Simon Johnson, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
The team last made the postseason in 2018, and the Ducks’ consistent stretch of hanging banners – the club’s only Stanley Cup title to date in 2007 and five straight division championships from 2012-13 to 2016-17 – was receding further in their rear-view mirror.
—Jim Alexander, Oc Register, 5 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for receding
Noun
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The lobby also features the building's original hanging clock, attended by metal cherub figures, that was restored to working condition.—
JC Reindl,
Freep.com,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Plus, each towel has a handy hanging loop for easy clean up and efficient drying.—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But there were no signs that the conflict was subsiding.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Mar. 2026
-
But, by the end of May, the issue was not subsiding.—
Evan Grant,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Ndiaye also declined to clear the ball, instead trying to thread a pass to retreating teammate Jake Dengler inside the 18-yard box.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
5 Apr. 2026
-
Police said security footage from the store shows customers staring and retreating before 53-year-old Tammy Canut of North Huntingdon walks into the frame naked.—
Meghan Schiller,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 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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Satellite images collected from the region since 2009 indicate that the population of Emperor penguins in Antarctica has been decreasing for about a decade, Phillip Trathan, member of the IUCN's Penguin Specialist Group, told ABC News.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
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This includes shoplifting, which dropped by nearly 3%; thefts from vehicles falling by 31%; and thefts of motor vehicle parts decreasing by about 27%, the report said.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Scheffler, who tends to keep his golf separate from his home life, had not shared any information since withdrawing from the Houston Open two weeks ago because of the impending birth of his second child.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 2026
-
However, legislation passed under the previous Biden administration in December 2023 would prevent any president from withdrawing the United States from NATO without two-thirds approval from the Senate or an Act of Congress.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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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
-
Patrick De Haan, a petroleum expert at GasBuddy, said prices at the pump could start dropping as soon as this weekend, although the decline could initially amount to only a few cents per gallon.—
Marissa Sulek,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
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While not endangered, American woodcocks have experienced a population decline in recent decades.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Receding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/receding. Accessed 11 Apr. 2026.
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