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
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
River flows have surged well above flood thresholds, with forecasts calling for crests near or above historic highs before waters slowly begin receding late tonight into Friday.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Verb
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
River flows have surged well above flood thresholds, with forecasts calling for crests near or above historic highs before waters slowly begin receding late tonight into Friday.
—Hannah Parry, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for receding
Noun
-
Oltmann, of Castle Rock, has repeatedly — and falsely — claimed that the 2020 presidential election was not won by Democrat Joe Biden, while calling for the hanging of political opponents.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
31 Dec. 2025
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Details include original Benaki Museum wall hangings, and complimentary welcome drinks and suitcase unpacking service upon arrival.—
Sarah Souli,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Dec. 2025
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
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At the opening, Natalie, bored and filled with loathing for her parents, flees her family home by retreating into imaginary worlds of vivid, eroticized violence.—
Erin Somers,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Even with state and federal backing, developers are retreating and selling properties, signaling that grassroots activism is fundamentally reshaping Big Tech’s expansion strategy.—
Marc Levy,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Jan. 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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For women, this meant decreasing intake to about 400 to 600 calories three days per week, while men reduced calories to around 500 to 700.—
Sarah Garone,
Health,
9 Jan. 2026
-
An expensive habit with a decreasing ROI.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But again, no school can prevent a player from withdrawing and enrolling elsewhere.—
Jon Wilner,
Mercury News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
With his previous attorney withdrawing from the case, arraignment was postponed Wednesday for Rob Reiner’s youngest son, who is charged with murdering the famed filmmaker and his photographer wife Michele in their Brentwood home.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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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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Wholesale market prices for milk, cheese and butter have been lower than normal for about a year, but had more of a significant decline in the past six months, Cain said.—
Cheryl V. Jackson,
IndyStar,
9 Jan. 2026
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Today, similar prudence animates concerns about NATO and broader trans-Atlantic ties in an era when Europe has undergone profound transformations through mass migration, supranational governance, demographic decline, and shifting cultural priorities.—
Daniel Ross Goodman,
The Washington Examiner,
9 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Receding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/receding. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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