as in tapered
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in walked
to go on foot
I stepped across the street for a quick lunch at the new diner
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in danced
to perform a series of usually rhythmic bodily movements to music
she was in her element, happily stepping around the dance floor
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in sped
to proceed or move quickly
many people wanted to linger before the president's bier, but guards kept the line of mourners stepping forward
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Recent Examples of stepped
Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Goodman in 2021 implemented a succession plan, and shortly thereafter stepped away from the daily business of running the gallery, which inaugurated an LA outpost 2023 and moved its New York headquarters to TriBeCa the following year.
—News Desk, Artforum, 27 Jan. 2026
In the video, Gauff — clad in a bright orange tennis dress — stepped behind a low barrier and repeatedly slammed her racket into the concrete floor.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
After the ceremony, Wawrinka stepped to the microphone.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Leads Moon Choi and Sukku Son have established careers in South Korea and stepped outside their comfort zones to cross over to Hollywood.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 23 Jan. 2026
Spoilers ahead for Finding Her Edge The Netflix series Finding Her Edge, based on the 2022 novel by Jennifer Iacopelli, follows Adriana Russo (Madelyn Keys), a former competitive figure skater who stepped away from the sport after the death of her mother, Sarah.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 22 Jan. 2026
At one point, Brown stepped away from the set, and co-stars Antoni Porowski, Tan France and Jonathan van Ness began bad-mouthing him behind his back, while his mom heard the whole conversation, according to TMZ.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
Into that vacuum stepped Delcy Rodríguez, the country’s vice president, former foreign minister and a central figure in the regime’s inner family circle.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 21 Jan. 2026
Verb
Twin had lifted a leg, pointed a toe, and stepped over him, careful not to step into the puddle of blood.
—Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Goodman in 2021 implemented a succession plan, and shortly thereafter stepped away from the daily business of running the gallery, which inaugurated an LA outpost 2023 and moved its New York headquarters to TriBeCa the following year.
—News Desk, Artforum, 27 Jan. 2026
In the video, Gauff — clad in a bright orange tennis dress — stepped behind a low barrier and repeatedly slammed her racket into the concrete floor.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 27 Jan. 2026
After the ceremony, Wawrinka stepped to the microphone.
—Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 24 Jan. 2026
Leads Moon Choi and Sukku Son have established careers in South Korea and stepped outside their comfort zones to cross over to Hollywood.
—Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 23 Jan. 2026
Spoilers ahead for Finding Her Edge The Netflix series Finding Her Edge, based on the 2022 novel by Jennifer Iacopelli, follows Adriana Russo (Madelyn Keys), a former competitive figure skater who stepped away from the sport after the death of her mother, Sarah.
—Isabella Wandermurem, Time, 22 Jan. 2026
At one point, Brown stepped away from the set, and co-stars Antoni Porowski, Tan France and Jonathan van Ness began bad-mouthing him behind his back, while his mom heard the whole conversation, according to TMZ.
—Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 21 Jan. 2026
Into that vacuum stepped Delcy Rodríguez, the country’s vice president, former foreign minister and a central figure in the regime’s inner family circle.
—Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 21 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stepped
Adjective
-
The shoes are made from soft black leather and feature a tall, thin and tapered stiletto heel measuring around four inches.—
Karla Rodriguez,
Footwear News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
After a tapered start to his rookie season, Buzelis has risen to become one of the most prominent players in the NBA’s sophomore class.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Most recently, negotiators walked away empty-handed after a long-shot push to extend enhanced Obamacare subsidies that were at the center of the last government shutdown.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The students braved the zero-degree temperatures and walked about a mile to the closest business district, where a number of morning commuters honked their horns in support.—
KIMBERLEE KRUESI,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
One night, all 14 guests and 20 crew danced the Macarena under a tropical sky.—
Tristan Rutherford,
Robb Report,
26 Jan. 2026
-
For the next 40 minutes, Michelsen danced and sprinted around the court, with Marshall timing all his moves.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Soon after, the driver of the Yukon sped away from the officer, the department said.—
Austen Erblat,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Suzuki sped through a PowerPoint presentation that catalogued twenty years of reporting.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
After several years of phased construction and testing, the project has entered its final pre-launch stage, with officials confirming that passenger services will begin rolling out later this year.—
Keith J Fernandez,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The phased approach emerging from policy discussions on the mainland follows this very logic.—
Sandy Peng,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Both papers hurried to make the most of this dramatic event, no matter how little reporters actually knew about the identity of the gunman or his motives for shooting four people.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Fraser hurried back to Kew Gardens with the boy, Jacob, who has autism and epilepsy, and is unable to speak.—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Defenders of the current tax decried the proposal, which was introduced Friday, as rushed and poorly considered.—
CalMatters,
Oc Register,
29 Jan. 2026
-
The Congress member’s decision to appear in public comes just a day after Anthony Kazmierczak, 55, rushed her and sprayed her with an unknown substance before being arrested.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The clatter of rising shutters echoed through the empty streets, the occasional rambler scurried past, along the walls, bundled tightly in his coat, women walked by with milk bottles tucked in shawls wrapped around their chests.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Tirado scurried to at least half a dozen bags before finding his and pulling out … pickle juice.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stepped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stepped. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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