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
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Recent Examples of taper off
Rainfall will peak in the next 24 hours, then taper off.
—
Miami Herald Staff Report, Miami Herald, 3 May 2026
There may be some consolation in the fact that some housing experts, like Cotality's chief economist, Selma Hepp, think that the recent period of skyrocketing housing costs may be tapering off.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
The 2025 event in Virginia helped bolster the coin's value for a time, but interest in the currency again tapered off.
—Lucien Bruggeman, ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
What initially felt like a meteoric rise tapered off into a slow burn.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for taper off
Miami Herald Staff Report, Miami Herald, 3 May 2026
There may be some consolation in the fact that some housing experts, like Cotality's chief economist, Selma Hepp, think that the recent period of skyrocketing housing costs may be tapering off.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
The 2025 event in Virginia helped bolster the coin's value for a time, but interest in the currency again tapered off.
—Lucien Bruggeman, ABC News, 21 Apr. 2026
What initially felt like a meteoric rise tapered off into a slow burn.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 17 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for taper off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taper off
Verb
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It also is used off-label for other kinds of ulcers and has several gynecological uses, including to induce contractions, to decrease blood loss after delivery and to treat miscarriages.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
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These efforts decreased spread significantly, according to the report.—
Youri Benadjaoud,
ABC News,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Even the most ambitious stories often felt exhausted by the third installment, with diminishing creative and financial returns.—
Hua Hsu,
New Yorker,
29 Apr. 2026
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Israel has repeatedly criticized the Lebanese government for not doing enough to diminish Hezbollah’s capabilities.—
Mustafa Qadri,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The family’s anger has subsided some since the baby’s death, in part because of their trust in God’s plan.—
Duaa Eldeib,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
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In fact, transparency mode eventually turns itself off until the wind subsides.—
Mark Knapp,
PC Magazine,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Bass defended her administration’s handling of homelessness, pointing to declining homelessness counts and the city’s Inside Safe program, while criticizing Raman’s record on police hiring and past votes against some encampment enforcement measures near schools and other sensitive sites.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
8 May 2026
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Spatola and his legal team declined to comment immediately after the verdict.—
Nancy Dillon,
Rolling Stone,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Choose what works and let the rest fall away.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
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There was a silent boom; in the thrill of the snake, everything unnecessary fell away.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Huntington Beach fell behind early in the second set but continued to keep the set close before Fruerbringer’s kill gave the Mustangs a 16-11 lead.—
Lou Ponsi,
Oc Register,
10 May 2026
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After a jump ball, Miles chased down the ball at midcourt, started to drive and passed to Hof, whose layup at the buzzer did not fall.—
Mike Cook,
Twin Cities,
10 May 2026
Verb
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This new effort will be known as Golden State Start, as California uses its bulk purchasing power to obtain 40 million high-quality diapers in hopes of easing financial strain for families and supporting infant health by helping parents maintain an adequate supply of clean diapers.—
Noe Padilla,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
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The game stays mostly cloudy, but mild with temperatures gradually easing into the middle 60s by the late innings.—
Steven Sosna,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Taper off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taper%20off. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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