Synonyms of receding

receding 1 of 3

adjective

as in retrogressing

Related Words

• retrogressing
• regressing
• stopped
• halted
• ended
• stalled
• arrested

Dissimilar Words

• proceeding
• ongoing
• operating
• happening
• functioning
• working
• afoot
• alive
• afloat
• going

receding

2 of 3

noun

as in hanging

Related Words

• hanging
• declivity
• decline
• dip
• declination
• fall
• declension
• descent
• downgrade
• hang

Dissimilar Words

• slope
• gradient
• lean
• pitch
• inclination
• grade
• diagonal
• rise
• bank
• incline
• slant
• rake
• climb
• ascent
• upgrade
• cant

receding

3 of 3

verb

present participle of recede

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• subsiding
• decreasing
• diminishing
• vanishing
• falling
• declining
• shrinking
• ebbing
• easing
• tapering
• waning
• dwindling
• lessening
• evaporating
• lowering
• weakening
• dying (away or down or out)
• moderating
• relenting
• dropping (off)
• draining (away)
• falling away
• ratcheting (down)
• tapering off
• palling
• abating
• remitting
• racheting (down)
• phasing down
• letting up
• collapsing
• compressing
• de-escalating
• contracting
• slackening
• constricting
• condensing
• melting (away)
• slowing (down)
• alleviating
• fading (away)
• tailing (off)
• sinking
• frittering (away)
• relaxing
• giving out
• petering (out)
• flagging
• deflating
• caving (in)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• increasing
• rising
• growing
• expanding
• swelling
• building
• intensifying
• mounting
• enlarging
• accumulating
• escalating
• soaring
• emerging
• burgeoning
• appearing
• picking up
• mushrooming
• waxing
• snowballing
• ballooning
• lengthening
• showing up
• blowing up
• elongating
• distending

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• retreating
• withdrawing
• retiring
• fleeing
• falling back
• giving way
• pulling out
• backing away
• evacuating
• losing ground
• dropping back
• shrinking
• flying
• giving ground
• leaving
• recoiling
• detaching
• flinching
• departing
• going
• abandoning
• backing down
• disengaging
• vacating
• climbing down
• backtracking
• pulling away
• disentangling
• bowing out
• backpedaling
• quitting
• chickening (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• advancing
• facing
• confronting
• defying
• breasting
• daring
• braving
• brazening
• bearding
• outbraving

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of receding

Verb

Floodwaters in Thailand ’s capital were slowly receding on Monday after nearly continuous rainfall over the weekend, although some neighborhoods and major roads remained inundated. — ABC News, 28 Sep. 2026

Consider techniques like progressive muscle relaxation, body scanning, box breathing, or even picturing your thoughts as clouds that are receding into the distance. — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 23 Sep. 2026

Sciences Po’s turn reflects a European assumption that, whatever happens in the US elections in 2026 and 2028, the American security umbrella is receding over the long term. — Ben Smith, semafor.com, 21 Sep. 2026

With returns exhausted and real wages receding, Luke Tilley, chief economist at M&T Bank and Wilmington Trust, said consumers are drawing on savings. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026

In interviews back then, Musk comes off as awkward, a geek in pleated khakis with a receding hairline and uneven teeth. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 8 Sep. 2026

Although fundamental challenges remain that could cause new turbulence, the peak tensions of the past eight years may well be receding. — Da Wei, Foreign Affairs, 7 Sep. 2026

With his hair receding, Jordan shaved his head clean in 1989 and turned the look into one of the most recognisable images in sport. — Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026

Authorities in Hungary closed Budapest’s Margaret Bridge after a bomb dating from World War II emerged at its base in receding water. — Sam McNeil, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026