Synonyms of taper

taper

verb

ˈtā-pər 

as in to decrease

to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually

you'll find the symptoms begin tapering gradually about 24 hours after you take the medicine

Synonyms & Similar Words

• decrease
• subside
• diminish
• ease
• shrink
• decline
• fall
• moderate
• taper off
• vanish
• ebb
• drop (off)
• die (away or down or out)
• wane
• recede
• drain (away)
• pall
• lower
• fall away
• lessen
• relent
• rachet (down)
• ratchet (down)
• dwindle
• weaken
• abate
• phase down
• remit
• tail (off)
• evaporate
• compress
• slow (down)
• let up
• de-escalate
• constrict
• slacken
• collapse
• relax
• fade (away)
• condense
• alleviate
• contract
• peter (out)
• melt (away)
• fritter (away)
• give out
• cave (in)
• sink
• flag
• deflate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• increase
• build
• rise
• grow
• mount
• expand
• intensify
• wax
• swell
• accumulate
• enlarge
• escalate
• pick up
• appear
• soar
• emerge
• show up
• balloon
• mushroom
• snowball
• elongate
• lengthen
• burgeon
• blow up
• distend

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of taper

Reddington asked if that was reasonable along with immediately stopping Clancy on Zoloft and not tapering her off? — Colleen Cronin, Boston Herald, 26 Aug. 2026

Bryan Ramsey, a meteorologist for the weather service in New York, said the storm was moving East offshore Thursday evening and was expected to taper over the next several hours. — CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026

The odds of prices hitting $85,000 also surged, up around 22 percentage points to 47%, with chances tapering the higher the target (30% for $90,000 and just 16% for $100,000). — Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes.com, 20 Aug. 2026

The sleeping surface measures 82 inches (208 cm) long and is widened via slim supplementary cushions to 57 inches (145 cm) at the head by the doors, tapering to 50 inches (127 cm) at the foot between the wheel wells. — New Atlas, 18 Aug. 2026

Phrases Containing taper

• taper off