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
Rebecca Cairns, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
For one weekend, attendees stepped inside a working animation pipeline where story development, character performance and world-building evolved simultaneously.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
Irving accidentally stepped on then-Kings center Jonas Valančiūnas’ foot and crumpled to the ground in pain.
—Christian Clark, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
This isn’t the first time that Huppert has stepped onto the red carpet with a dramatic hair transformation.
—Ranyechi Udemezue, Vogue, 17 Feb. 2026
Around the same time, in 2016, guitarist and co-founder Matt Roberts, who stepped away from 3 Doors Down in 2012 citing health issues, died of an accidental drug overdose before a performance in Wisconsin.
—Jim Beaugez, Rolling Stone, 15 Feb. 2026
Annapolis police said several vehicles were stolen this past weekend after drivers stepped away from their vehicles while the keys were in the ignition and they were left running.
—Adam Thompson, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
On the same day Amber Glenn won Olympic gold as part of the team event and stepped away from social media due to backlash over her comments on politics and the LGBTQ+ community, the American figure skater ended up with another headache.
—Dave Skretta, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
Valenzuela clapped loudly and cheered as each student stepped off the podium.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
Seoul, South Korea — The week before Close Your Eyes stepped onto the stage for their first-ever solo concert, the seven members moved in practiced formation across a basement rehearsal studio in Seoul’s Gangnam district.
—Rebecca Cairns, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
For one weekend, attendees stepped inside a working animation pipeline where story development, character performance and world-building evolved simultaneously.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 18 Feb. 2026
Irving accidentally stepped on then-Kings center Jonas Valančiūnas’ foot and crumpled to the ground in pain.
—Christian Clark, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026
This isn’t the first time that Huppert has stepped onto the red carpet with a dramatic hair transformation.
—Ranyechi Udemezue, Vogue, 17 Feb. 2026
Around the same time, in 2016, guitarist and co-founder Matt Roberts, who stepped away from 3 Doors Down in 2012 citing health issues, died of an accidental drug overdose before a performance in Wisconsin.
—Jim Beaugez, Rolling Stone, 15 Feb. 2026
Annapolis police said several vehicles were stolen this past weekend after drivers stepped away from their vehicles while the keys were in the ignition and they were left running.
—Adam Thompson, CBS News, 10 Feb. 2026
On the same day Amber Glenn won Olympic gold as part of the team event and stepped away from social media due to backlash over her comments on politics and the LGBTQ+ community, the American figure skater ended up with another headache.
—Dave Skretta, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
Valenzuela clapped loudly and cheered as each student stepped off the podium.
—Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stepped
Adjective
-
Dress them up or down depending on the occasion, but my favorite way to sport them is with a simple white tee, boyfriend blazer, and tapered pair of light-wash denim.—
Lane Nieset,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Feb. 2026
-
These tapered square nails feature glowing red cat-eye French tips atop a barely there nude base.—
Ariel Wodarcyk,
InStyle,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Firefighters responding to a 911 call on Wednesday walked along the hallway looking for the source.—
Peter Hermann,
Washington Post,
14 Feb. 2026
-
In the two clips, the creature was a young animal who emerged from a small burrow and walked a few seconds into the distance.—
Hanna Wickes,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Under Moe, the Nuggets made the playoffs nine straight times, reached the Western Conference semis on four occasions and danced it all the way to the conference finals in 1985.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
18 Feb. 2026
-
As marching bands passed by, the music echoing through the city streets, people danced and cheered.—
Sara Cline,
Los Angeles Times,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
According to a preliminary investigation, the crash occurred when the white Nissan sped south on Virginia Avenue.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Streamed live on YouTube, the two and half hour ceremony was (blissfully) commercial free, which sped things up but meant guests didn’t have the usual opportunity to mix and mingle.—
Paul Chi,
Vogue,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Construction, which will include an exterior remodeling, is expected to begin later this year with phased openings, including additional retail, dining and wellness concepts, in 2028.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Northwood, based in southern California, makes phased array antennas, mobile ground infrastructure that increases satellites’ connectivity to Earth.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
John Helmick hurried to book a flight to San Antonio from his home in Las Vegas after learning his former cross-country coach at Texas had entered the end-of-life stage of hospice care.—
Tom Orsborn,
San Antonio Express-News,
1 Feb. 2026
-
In the wake of the killings of Renee Good and then Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, federal officials hurried to television cameras and social media accounts.—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The order did not last long, however, as lawmakers rushed to the National Assembly in dramatic overnight scenes, pushing past troops sent there by Yoon and voting unanimously against it in an emergency session.—
Stella Kim,
NBC news,
19 Feb. 2026
-
As lawmakers rushed to the National Assembly, Yoon’s martial law command issued a proclamation declaring sweeping powers, including suspending political activities, controlling the media and publications, and allowing arrests without warrants.—
Kim Tong-Hyung,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 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 21 Feb. 2026.
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