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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of taper
Rain throughout the region is expected through Tuesday with the storm tapering.
—
Deborah Netburn, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2026
The pants taper around the ankle for a loose and casual look.
—Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025
According to CNEVPost, despite a strong initial reception, sales have tapered, with November deliveries falling to 4,870 units—one of the lowest monthly figures this year.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 29 Dec. 2025
Cut with a curved outer seam that balloons slightly through the thigh before tapering at the ankle, the shape is all about creating volume.
—Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for taper
Deborah Netburn, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2026
The pants taper around the ankle for a loose and casual look.
—Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025
According to CNEVPost, despite a strong initial reception, sales have tapered, with November deliveries falling to 4,870 units—one of the lowest monthly figures this year.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 29 Dec. 2025
Cut with a curved outer seam that balloons slightly through the thigh before tapering at the ankle, the shape is all about creating volume.
—Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for taper
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taper
Verb
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Newsom claims homelessness decline Newsom during his final State of the State address Thursday claimed the state’s homeless population decreased last year.—
Theresa Clift,
Sacbee.com,
10 Jan. 2026
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Meanwhile, the number of job openings have decreased nearly 10% on the year to 729,000 in the September to November period from a year ago, the ONS found.—
Sawdah Bhaimiya,
CNBC,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Mariners traversing the bar are urged to exercise extreme caution or stay in port until the threat subsides.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Jan. 2026
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These findings have prompted the development of interventions designed to create time and space between an individual’s suicidal impulse and access to firearms, allowing acute urges to subside.—
Russell Lemle,
Mercury News,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Still seething after a sloppy 19-16 loss to the Detroit Lions, Johnson wasn’t hiding his dissatisfaction with a defeat that seemed to diminish his team’s momentum.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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Kaufman moved there 30 years ago, and since that time the island’s community has diminished by degrees, its youth lured away by better employment prospects in Provo and overseas.—
Henry Wismayer,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Panthers will look to establish their run game to ease pressure on Bryce Young.—
Mike Jones,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2026
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The review also supports earlier findings that gum chewing can ease stress, but only in certain situations.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But the commissioners remain firm that too many solar projects could shrink the supply of local farmland and impact the county’s food production.—
Lily Carey,
Baltimore Sun,
13 Jan. 2026
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The Xiaomi surged ahead, and Mat reacted in disbelief as the Ferrari shrank in his mirrors.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Trey Rose, 27, who was also arrested, met Samson Nacua at another location and got in the car, also not knowing the car belonged to someone else, according to a sheriff’s detective who declined to be named.—
Sierra van der Brug,
Daily News,
16 Jan. 2026
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On Wednesday, a federal judge declined to issue a temporary restraining order to halt the operations.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The 1971 Vikings were the other team, and Minnesota wound up falling at home to Dallas in its initial playoff contest.—
Sean Keeler,
Denver Post,
13 Jan. 2026
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In witness footage shared by the police, the paraglider is seen falling from the sky with a faulty parachute and spiraling quickly towards the waters below, before smashing into the ocean in front of horrified beachgoers.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Taper.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taper. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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