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
Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 8 Nov. 2025
Later, as Ripa stepped off to the side, her husband faced Shevchenko, who attempted to teach him a few moves she's employed en route to becoming a UFC champion.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Nov. 2025
In 2020, Harry and Markle stepped away from their royal duties and later moved to Montecito, California.
—Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Into that breach have stepped quantum sensors – devices that sense tiny variations in Earth’s gravity or magnetic field to establish position independently of satellites.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2025
After nearly two decades of heartbreak, laughter and a whole lot of medical emergencies, Pompeo hung up her white coat and stepped away from Grey's Anatomy in 2023 — though not entirely.
—Dana Rose Falcone, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
More recently, Justice Brian Hagedorn stepped away from a case regarding the Act 10 public bargaining law, while Justice Janet Protasiewicz rejected calls to recuse from the case.
—Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Logan allegedly stepped on his brakes before firing multiple shots towards Wright’s vehicle.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2025
After accidentally leaving a fan on overnight, Breyana stepped outside to find an unexpected visitor lounging in front of it — a squirrel.
—Ronnie Li, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
Verb
The pop star has taken several social media breaks in recent years — briefly in 2021 and twice in 2022 — and has periodically stepped away from posting ever since.
—Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 8 Nov. 2025
Later, as Ripa stepped off to the side, her husband faced Shevchenko, who attempted to teach him a few moves she's employed en route to becoming a UFC champion.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Nov. 2025
In 2020, Harry and Markle stepped away from their royal duties and later moved to Montecito, California.
—Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Into that breach have stepped quantum sensors – devices that sense tiny variations in Earth’s gravity or magnetic field to establish position independently of satellites.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 6 Nov. 2025
After nearly two decades of heartbreak, laughter and a whole lot of medical emergencies, Pompeo hung up her white coat and stepped away from Grey's Anatomy in 2023 — though not entirely.
—Dana Rose Falcone, PEOPLE, 6 Nov. 2025
More recently, Justice Brian Hagedorn stepped away from a case regarding the Act 10 public bargaining law, while Justice Janet Protasiewicz rejected calls to recuse from the case.
—Laura Schulte, jsonline.com, 24 Oct. 2025
Logan allegedly stepped on his brakes before firing multiple shots towards Wright’s vehicle.
—Caroline Zimmerman, Kansas City Star, 24 Oct. 2025
After accidentally leaving a fan on overnight, Breyana stepped outside to find an unexpected visitor lounging in front of it — a squirrel.
—Ronnie Li, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stepped
Adjective
-
Layer it with a mix of fall florals and your favorite centerpiece, or keep it simple with a tapered candle display.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
9 Nov. 2025
-
That stage is a silo-like cylinder with a tapered nose cone, measuring 165 feet tall, and weighing more than 200,000 pounds.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Prosecutors said Raleigh walked outside his home after hearing Chastain throwing rocks at his garage.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Kylie, with her bag of potato chips in hand, then walked towards the bedroom door to try and leave.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Winner of season 12 (May 24, 2011) Hines Ward and Kym Johnson danced their way to the crown right before Ward's last season with the Pittsburgh Steelers.—
Kate Hogan,
PEOPLE,
11 Nov. 2025
-
An energized defense danced, joked and celebrated on the field.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Garcia again rammed officers’ cars and sped off before fleeing on foot and barricading himself inside his apartment, ICE said.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Crystals that cleanse All three minerals sped up the breakdown under typical environmental conditions, but the rate depended heavily on crystal structure.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Trump’s grandiose peace plan still ended up phased and conditional – granting the Israeli leader political leeway with his hardline coalition.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
11 Oct. 2025
-
The plan calls for $19 million in phased infrastructure projects within five years.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Mahomes spent the game on his backside, hurried or outright hit by rushers 15 times in all.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
3 Nov. 2025
-
As rain pattered against windows, and trees lining the streets swayed, flurries of urgent texts began ricocheting from one end of the neighborhood to the other, and panic set in as some residents put on their shoes and hurried out the door.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Elijah Metcalf hauled in five passes for 143 yards and a touchdown, while Jeffery Pittman rushed for 75 yards and a score on 18 carries.—
Michael Harley,
Arkansas Online,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Nebraska tied the game with an extra point after Missouri students rushed the field, celebrating an apparent victory.—
The Athletic College Football Staff,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Things also scurried in the branches above.—
Ryan Knighton,
AFAR Media,
31 Oct. 2025
-
The pair then broke into two high-security display cases, snatched various pieces of crown jewels on display, and scurried back down the ladder and escaped.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Stepped.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/stepped. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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