SLOWING (DOWN OR UP) Synonyms: 89 Similar and Opposite Words

slowing (down or up)

verb

present participle of slow (down or up)

as in hanging (around or out)

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Recent Examples of Synonyms for slowing (down or up)

Verb

Those comments now has Aubrey Tianello, senior analyst at BNP Paribas Equity Research, noting that investors might be expecting decelerating comp growth at both core Dick’s and Foot Locker doors.

— Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 24 Aug. 2026
Meanwhile the buyer's own depreciation charge keeps climbing on the equipment already purchased, compressing margins into a decelerating revenue base.

— Jason Kirsch, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of decelerating

Verb

Fans climbed trees and light poles to try to get a glimpse of Kiffin strolling in with a suit (no tie) and shades.

— Matt Baker, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2026
Nature lovers enjoy strolling along the community’s scenic walking paths, maintained by the Trail Friends Group.

— Erickson Senior Living, Charlotte Observer, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of strolling

Verb

As the deli’s surveillance video rolled, his client went from calmly standing at the counter with a bottle of Gatorade to staggering to the floor, clutching his leg and tearing at his pants.

— Alison J. Stein, HubSpot, 1 Sep. 2026
The works depicted broken figures staggering toward the viewer in ragged uniforms — in distorted sizes, giant hands and small heads.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026

Definition of staggering

Verb

Zeus did not approve of his daughter fooling around with this mortal roughneck hunter and put out a hit on Orion.

— Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2026
The transition was rough for Ansari, who wasn’t fluent in English and often got in trouble for fooling around in school.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Feb. 2026

Definition of fooling around

Verb

Take a break at the rooftop Skywalker Grill before ambling to the library and grounds.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026
In surveillance video provided by police, two young men wearing hoodies, with their hoods up, and surgical-style face masks, are seen quickly ambling down the sidewalk.

— Lincoln Anderson, New York Daily News, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of ambling

Verb

The filmmaker has likened his perspective in this project to that of Dorothy’s dog Toto in The Wizard of Oz, alert to the shuffling feet beneath the curtain rather than being bamboozled by the shyster title character’s techno showmanship.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026
Not much else changed in Class 5A, besides Azle and Arlington Seguin shuffling down two spots with Week 2 losses.

— Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of shuffling

Verb

The charter Girardeau sailed with was about four miles out and almost at the its trip when word of the hammerhead was radioed out — the crew decided to take a chance and sped up the coast 15 minutes to see the shark still sauntering in the sea.

— Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 24 Aug. 2026
Before sauntering down the stairwell to the dressing room, Stones stopped to sign autographs for fans in Inter’s pitchside hospitality suites.

— James Horncastle, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of sauntering

Verb

Chris Bell is inching closer and closer to making his NFL debut on Friday in the Miami Dolphins’ preseason finale against the Atlanta Falcons.

— Omar Kelly August 25, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026
Given the city’s limited ability to enforce the fines, Rowan acknowledged uncertainty about whether speeds will begin inching back up.

— Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026

Definition of inching

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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slowing (down)

slowing (down or up)

slowish

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“Slowing (down or up).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/slowing%20%28down%20or%20up%29. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of slowing (down or up)

verb

Example Sentences

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