taper off

verb

Definition of taper offnext
as in to decrease
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually at this time of the year, light begins to taper off a little earlier each day

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of taper off There will be some periods of heavy rain, especially south of Philadelphia through midday, but right now the rain looks to start to taper off during the afternoon hours. — Grant Gilmore, CBS News, 26 June 2026 And several of the unflattering stats have tapered off a ton this last year, including sacks taken (27 in 2025, down from 62 in 2023). — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 24 June 2026 In 2018, RepoNut content tapered off. — Paige Williams, New Yorker, 22 June 2026 In some cases, patients who no longer wish to take the medication because of inconvenience or side effects can slowly taper off, eventually discontinuing medication altogether. — Lev Facher, STAT, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for taper off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taper off
  1. decrease
  2. diminish
  3. subside
  4. decline
  5. fall away
  6. fall
  7. ease
Verb
  • The Postal Service has grappled with increasing costs as mail volumes have steadily decreased for years.
    — Stella Canino-Quiñones, Washington Post, 10 July 2026
  • Opponents of the task force note that crime was already decreasing in Memphis before the unit’s arrival.
    — Andy Rose, CNN Money, 10 July 2026
Definition of decrease
Verb
  • Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 14 July 2026
  • Kylian Mbappé’s powers were diminished in that tournament after sustaining a broken nose, while emerging stars like Michael Olise and Désiré Doué were yet to break through.
    — James Robson, Chicago Tribune, 13 July 2026
Definition of diminish
Verb
  • Violence flared and subsided periodically, and Lebanon and Israel reached ceasefire agreements in 1993, 1996 and after a 2006 war.
    — Anthony Wanis-St John, The Conversation, 10 July 2026
  • Execution remains the big question, but doubts around Apple's strategy have largely subsided.
    — Kevin Stankiewicz,Zev Fima, CNBC, 10 July 2026
Definition of subside
Verb
  • Bogdanos declined the cash, which is instead being donated to nonprofits of his choosing.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 9 July 2026
  • Even as remote work has declined from its pandemic highs, the data shows nearly 22% of workers still worked at least partly from home in 2025, only 1 percentage point less than the number who partly worked from home during the year prior.
    — Marco Quiroz-Gutierrez, Fortune, 9 July 2026
Definition of decline
Verb
  • Once inside The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago, entered via Pearson Street, the Mag Mile bustle falls away, replaced by a glassy aerie with views of the John Hancock Center.
    — Rima Suqi, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 July 2026
  • Tubbs’s plan to follow his father into the military began to fall away as a new mission—to save animals—took hold.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 July 2026
Definition of fall away
Verb
  • Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.
    — CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 16 July 2026
  • Micron Technology sank 8%, Intel lost more than 4%, while Lam Research and Advanced Micro Devices each fell about 3%.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 16 July 2026
Definition of fall
Verb
  • In May, layoffs across the industry reached their highest for any month since August 2024, before easing in June.
    — Annie Palmer, CNBC, 11 July 2026
  • But as the Russian full-scale invasion of Ukraine continues, the IOC and its sister organization, the International Paralympic Committee, eased restrictions.
    — Mark Temnycky, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
Definition of ease

Browse Nearby Words

tapering off
taper off
tapers
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Cite this Entry

“Taper off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taper%20off. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on taper off

Nglish: Translation of taper off for Spanish Speakers

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