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
-
Old cans transform easily into hanging or tabletop herb pots for basil, rosemary, mint and more.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The vision of acclaimed designer Jean-Michel Gathy is beautifully rendered in Il Salotto, the sleek lobby bar, with its regional touches like wool wall hangings, soaring floor-to-ceiling windows, and five fireplaces.—
Travel + Leisure Editors,
Travel + Leisure,
15 Apr. 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
-
On the arm of the sofa, where he had been seated just minutes before retreating into his bedroom for a few minutes of shut-eye, was a block of brown and white ice.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Large investors flip to net sellers Larger investors are already retreating from the single-family market.—
Samantha Delouya,
CNN Money,
13 Apr. 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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Despite being a required vaccine in all states to attend public school, rates have been steadily decreasing over the last decade, CDC data shows.—
Arthur Jones II,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2026
-
Monitoring showed that radionuclides such as cesium spread through coastal waters but became diluted and dispersed over time, with levels in most areas farther out in the ocean decreasing and remaining low and relatively stable after the initial release.—
Eduardo B. Farfán,
The Conversation,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Since 2016, federal officials allege, Meade has been trying to avoid paying the tax obligation through a number of tactics, which include withdrawing large sums of cash and purchasing cashier’s checks from his business accounts.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Legitimate companies do not walk you through withdrawing cash, using crypto ATMs or buying gold to solve a problem.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 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
-
The in-flight tests yielded a substantial decline in soot and ice with 100 percent SAF.—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Correction-level declines occurred in 71% of those years, versus only 44% in other years.—
Jim Edwards,
Fortune,
29 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Receding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/receding. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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