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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of taper
By tapering the metal base, the setting reduces visible metal and allows more light to reach the stone.
—
Malana Vantayler, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026
The outfield gaps will move from 387 feet to 379 and taper back toward center field, which remains at 410 feet.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 24 Feb. 2026
Besides preventing mold and mildew, cleaning will also taper unpleasant odors and prevent cracking and crumbling of your seal.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 21 Feb. 2026
Renderings show a singular, slender tower, which subtly tapers towards its apex.
—Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for taper
Malana Vantayler, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026
The outfield gaps will move from 387 feet to 379 and taper back toward center field, which remains at 410 feet.
—Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 24 Feb. 2026
Besides preventing mold and mildew, cleaning will also taper unpleasant odors and prevent cracking and crumbling of your seal.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 21 Feb. 2026
Renderings show a singular, slender tower, which subtly tapers towards its apex.
—Katherine McLaughlin, Architectural Digest, 18 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for taper
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taper
Verb
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The biodiversity also decreased by 32 percent.—
Lauren Sommer,
NPR,
13 Mar. 2026
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The closure is part of the North Aurora Road Improvement Project, an intergovernmental construction project being done by Naperville Township, the cities of Naperville and Aurora to improve pedestrian and bicycle access and decrease traffic congestion and crashes in the area.—
Carolyn Stein,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Robinhood’s stock fell 90% in 2022 as the meme stock mania subsided and then flatlined.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
13 Mar. 2026
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Her depression subsided not long after.—
Jamie Ducharme,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But Waddle’s production diminished the past three years because of myriad factors, including Tagovailoa’s regression, some drops by Waddle and Hill commanding more targets before his September injury last year.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
17 Mar. 2026
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Israel’s indie film industry is diminished, squeezed between endless conflict, global boycotts over Gaza and defunding threats from the country’s right-wing government, and hopes are slim for a presence in Cannes this year.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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His administration has already promised to release the nation’s oil reserves to relieve pressure and has eased sanctions on Russian oil, to the consternation of European leaders.—
Mabinty Quarshie,
The Washington Examiner,
14 Mar. 2026
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The step aims to free up Russian cargoes stranded at sea and ease supply shortages caused by the Iran war.—
SYLVIE CORBET,
Arkansas Online,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Across the country, the number of workers interested in agricultural labor is shrinking.—
Boyce Upholt,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
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As the number of particles increases, the overlap between the prepared input state and the true ground state shrinks exponentially.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Scientists disagree on whether these young trees will mature into forest giants or decline due to drought and a warming climate.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Mar. 2026
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But exactly how the tragedy unfolded has remained unclear and the Pentagon has declined comment, saying the investigation remains ongoing.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The team with the worst record can fall no lower than fifth in the draft while the team with the fourth-worst record can fall as far as eighth.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacbee.com,
15 Mar. 2026
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Midway through the third quarter, Ralston Valley pushed the ball in transition with the Jaguars falling slightly out of control.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Taper.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taper. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
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