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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of 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
With his open, often smiling face, white goatee, receding hairline, and glasses, Hall looks more like a politician than a sheriff.
—James Verini, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
The continent’s economic weight and geopolitical relevance are rising, not receding.
—Alexanderia Baker-Haidara, semafor.com, 27 Feb. 2026
If, by contrast, their empire was receding, these efforts, no matter how skilled, could not stem that ebbing tide.
—Alfred McCoy, Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
Can Hims regrow a receding hairline?
—Rebecca Strong, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
No, not the motion picture academy screening populated by Oscar voters with receding hairlines.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 17 Feb. 2026
With energy receding as an industrial driver in Oklahoma City − two of its biggest names, at least − business leaders are looking even harder at aerospace and defense as a core sector of the economy.
—Richard Mize, Oklahoman, 16 Feb. 2026
Verb
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
With his open, often smiling face, white goatee, receding hairline, and glasses, Hall looks more like a politician than a sheriff.
—James Verini, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
The continent’s economic weight and geopolitical relevance are rising, not receding.
—Alexanderia Baker-Haidara, semafor.com, 27 Feb. 2026
If, by contrast, their empire was receding, these efforts, no matter how skilled, could not stem that ebbing tide.
—Alfred McCoy, Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
Can Hims regrow a receding hairline?
—Rebecca Strong, USA Today, 23 Feb. 2026
No, not the motion picture academy screening populated by Oscar voters with receding hairlines.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 17 Feb. 2026
With energy receding as an industrial driver in Oklahoma City − two of its biggest names, at least − business leaders are looking even harder at aerospace and defense as a core sector of the economy.
—Richard Mize, Oklahoman, 16 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for receding
Noun
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These giant, South American perennials take on a tree shape and are festooned in long, hanging, trumpet-shape blooms that release a wonderful perfume in late afternoon.—
Nan Sterman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Mar. 2026
-
As with every hanging, there are differing accounts about the man’s walk to the gallows.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But, by the end of May, the issue was not subsiding.—
Evan Grant,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Mar. 2026
-
By Wednesday, the disruptions seemed to be subsiding, with nearly 200 grounded, according to the flight tracking website FlightAware.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In the third quarter, after taking a tumble, Green reached out and grabbed the ankle of a retreating Jabari Smith Jr.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
However, the ice sheet has been retreating from the grounding line in the most vulnerable regions at a rate of more than 170 square miles per year.—
Julia Jacobo,
ABC News,
5 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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Extortion is also a crime that worries authorities, although cases appear to be decreasing.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
3 Mar. 2026
-
But an album rollout is costly and seeing an ever-decreasing return on investment.—
Michaelangelo Matos,
Rolling Stone,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Arguing that having a public apology circulating online would be unfair to their client, his attorneys instead handed Rose a paper note containing the apology before quickly withdrawing it.—
Andrew Lapin,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
-
And naive, especially after the Soviet Union spent a decade fighting in Afghanistan to put communist allies in charge, before withdrawing its troops in 1989 amid failure.—
Jill Lawrence,
Mercury News,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Three other vehicles with human drivers then appeared to illegally pass the stopped bus.—
Keri Heath,
Austin American Statesman,
3 Mar. 2026
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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
-
Global art markets saw modest growth in 2025 after two years of decline — but the recovery is partial and fragile.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
12 Mar. 2026
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Asia-Pacific markets fell Thursday, with Japan's Nikkei 225 and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 leading the declines.—
Leonie Kidd,
CNBC,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Receding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/receding. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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