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
As was the case last season, Bunce has not tapered down the intensity of many sessions, with the opposite sometimes being the case.
—
George Caulkin, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Its unusual shape is part boat prow, part clothing iron, thanks to a long, narrow triangular lot that tapers to a point at the southern end.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 29 Sep. 2025
The suggested retail price is $100 USD, and with only 45,000 bottles produced, availability is expected to taper quickly as collectors and fans of the Legacy Series add it to their shelves.
—Gina Pace, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Net immigration is expected to even out with net births around 2055 as population growth taper down toward zero.
—Tobias Burns, The Hill, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for taper
George Caulkin, New York Times, 1 Oct. 2025
Its unusual shape is part boat prow, part clothing iron, thanks to a long, narrow triangular lot that tapers to a point at the southern end.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 29 Sep. 2025
The suggested retail price is $100 USD, and with only 45,000 bottles produced, availability is expected to taper quickly as collectors and fans of the Legacy Series add it to their shelves.
—Gina Pace, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Net immigration is expected to even out with net births around 2055 as population growth taper down toward zero.
—Tobias Burns, The Hill, 10 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for taper
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taper
Verb
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This can reduce dependence on critical raw materials, lower costs, decrease carbon emissions, and ultimately make sustainable technologies more reliable and accessible in everyday life, as per the release.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Nov. 2025
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The trend, Morales said, should come as a giant, blinking warning sign for Republicans, who ran in 2024 on promises to decrease inflation and improve the cost of living for everyday Americans.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Conditions may be chaotic right now, Finck said, but fashion purveyors are starting to think about what happens after the market turbulence subsides.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
11 Nov. 2025
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Officials downgraded the alert after fears of more significant waves subsided, but maintained ongoing advisories regarding caution and aftershocks.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Not to diminish, but anybody can create their own AI characters, right?—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
11 Nov. 2025
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The institutions built to prevent such suffering are straining under the weight of geopolitical rivalries, eroding trust, and diminishing political will.—
ARIF HUSAIN,
Foreign Affairs,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Ending the government shutdown would ease the situation for controllers, but the FAA said the flight cuts will remain in place until their safety data improves.—
JOSH FUNK,
Arkansas Online,
8 Nov. 2025
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This spray aims to prevent breakage and ease tension during the braid takedown process by adding softness so hair can easily slide through knots and detangle much faster.—
Caché McClay,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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KPop Demon Hunters Despite Sony’s strong earnings showing, profit from its picture business shrank nearly 25% year over year.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
11 Nov. 2025
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The collapse of social and search traffic has shrunk its audiences, particularly at Business Insider, which has long relied on clicks.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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In a social media video, Madi said her father's health declined in the months following an early-stage prostate cancer diagnosis.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
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The Administration submitted an emergency filing to the Supreme Court after an appeals court declined to block the injunction.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Two things happened on that blustery back-to-school morning that fell exactly a month after my eleventh birthday.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
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Midway through the third quarter, true freshman linebacker Mason Posa, buried on the depth chart just weeks ago, ripped the ball loose at Washington’s 7-yard line and fell on it himself.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Taper.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taper. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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