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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of stepped
Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 4 Mar. 2026
Sharon Horton stepped through the door of a sky-blue mobile clinic and onto a Skid Row sidewalk.
—Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Instead, the men knocked on the apartment door and the woman stepped outside in the hallway, closing the door behind her.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
When Jalen Suggs stepped onto the Kia Center court Sunday night against the Pistons, the Magic guard was rocking a new haircut.
—Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Mar. 2026
The audience inside Pasadena Civic Auditorium rose to its feet as the pair stepped to the mic.
—Eve Batey, Vanity Fair, 1 Mar. 2026
Men and women stepped onto their balconies, watching the crowd stream past—not an unusual sight there since liberation, except that now there were no tri-star revolutionary flags, no banners calling for freedom.
—Anand Gopal, New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2026
Since leaving office, Biden has largely stepped away from the public eye.
—ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
From the moment guests stepped inside, the five-star luxury hotel on Sunset Boulevard had been transformed into an extension of the magazine itself.
—Andrea Navarro, Vogue, 25 Feb. 2026
Verb
Beach Boys member Bruce Johnston — who joined the group in 1965 when Brian Wilson stepped away from the road to focus on studio work — is leaving the touring unit after serving the better part of six decades, and performing somewhere in the ballpark of 6,000 concerts.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 4 Mar. 2026
Sharon Horton stepped through the door of a sky-blue mobile clinic and onto a Skid Row sidewalk.
—Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Instead, the men knocked on the apartment door and the woman stepped outside in the hallway, closing the door behind her.
—Meredith Colias-Pete, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
When Jalen Suggs stepped onto the Kia Center court Sunday night against the Pistons, the Magic guard was rocking a new haircut.
—Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Mar. 2026
The audience inside Pasadena Civic Auditorium rose to its feet as the pair stepped to the mic.
—Eve Batey, Vanity Fair, 1 Mar. 2026
Men and women stepped onto their balconies, watching the crowd stream past—not an unusual sight there since liberation, except that now there were no tri-star revolutionary flags, no banners calling for freedom.
—Anand Gopal, New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2026
Since leaving office, Biden has largely stepped away from the public eye.
—ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
From the moment guests stepped inside, the five-star luxury hotel on Sunset Boulevard had been transformed into an extension of the magazine itself.
—Andrea Navarro, Vogue, 25 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for stepped
Adjective
-
Lillusory Cardigan Pants Matching Set Nothing says spring better than a pastel cardigan, and this comfy set from Lillusory comes with an oversized button-down sweater and a pair of matching tapered pants for a complete look that can be worn on repeat.—
Melony Forcier,
InStyle,
4 Mar. 2026
-
This dripping results in most of the water freezing at the base, with less freezing at the tip, giving it a tapered shape.—
Ray Petelin,
CBS News,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Americans walked 17 times and forced Brazil to throw 221 pitches.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, and Yasmin Le Bon walked the show, and Paul McCartney was behind the music.—
Laure Guilbault,
Vogue,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In the distance, rays of light danced off Pure Amazon.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The two had a few drinks together and danced.—
Nick Lentz,
CBS News,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Volunteers, including McGuire, sped to the shores of Huntington Beach to help.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The car sped through the streets.—
Emiliano Tahui Gómez,
Austin American Statesman,
8 Mar. 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
-
When the wait had become alarmingly long, Lilian and Anna hurried into the woods.—
Yiyun Li,
New Yorker,
1 Mar. 2026
-
The men disappeared inside and hurried up to the fifth floor.—
Steven Levingston,
Vanity Fair,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Evacuation orders on Thursday covering entire neighborhoods home to more than half a million people caused mass panic as people rushed to leave.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Earlier this season, UConn coach Geno Auriemma said Sarah Strong plays basketball as though she’s never rushed or sped up.—
Chantel Jennings,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 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 12 Mar. 2026.
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