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 The large multi-state outbreak in 2013 went from June to August before tapering off. — Joseph Hernandez, Bon Appetit Magazine, 14 July 2026 Scientists expect auroral activity to taper off significantly by 2027 as the sun gets farther from the peak. — Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 The conditions were wet and and slippery at first, but the rain appears to have tapered off now. — Nbc News, NBC news, 28 June 2026 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 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
  • Once their ships turned away, the tension dramatically decreased, though hours later China Coast Guard ships could be seen in the distance still shadowing the Philippine vessels.
    — Ivan Watson, CNN Money, 24 July 2026
  • Air pollution is severe in many cities and industrial regions and is estimated to have caused the average life expectancy of Indians to decrease by more than three years in 2022.
    — Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 24 July 2026
Definition of decrease
Verb
  • The flood of content drew more young people into the demonstrations and underscored the diminishing influence of traditional media in India among Gen Z.
    — Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 28 July 2026
  • Workers seek transparency regarding AI's impact on their roles, assurance against job losses, and confidence that their value isn't diminished.
    — Joe McKendrick, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
Definition of diminish
Verb
  • Instead, the most effective strategy is a deliberate, brief pause—just long enough to let reflexes subside and allow judgment to catch up.
    — Alfonso Cahero, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • Water levels may remain elevated through the next high tide cycle along the Louisiana and Texas coastline but should subside thereafter.
    — MIAMI HERALD HURRICANE BOT, Miami Herald, 23 July 2026
Definition of subside
Verb
  • When reached by phone by CNN, one of the lead doctors for the trial, Yu Yongguo, declined to comment and hung up.
    — Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 31 July 2026
  • The Pentagon declined to comment when contacted by CBS News for this story.
    — James LaPorta, CBS News, 31 July 2026
Definition of decline
Verb
  • This was decided by the storage capacity of early records and commercially reified for decades after the practical limitations fell away.
    — Brian Howe, Pitchfork, 21 July 2026
  • Keep an eye out for flowers in which the petals and stamens have fallen away completely.
    — Alexandra Jones, The Spruce, 21 July 2026
Definition of fall away
Verb
  • Such is the fate that befalls Meta, whose shares fell as much as 10% in after-hours trading Wednesday after the company missed earnings due to costs ballooning 55% (Meta’s stock later recovered some ground and was down 7%).
    — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 30 July 2026
  • Rain fell early Thursday in the city of Bordeaux to the east.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 30 July 2026
Definition of fall
Verb
  • The new 5th Congressional District boundaries were designed to ease a path for Republicans to force out Cleaver, who has represented Kansas City in Congress since 2005.
    — Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 26 July 2026
  • Temperatures in France and Spain show no sign of easing, holding steady on Sunday and expected to soar as high as 42 degrees Celsius (107 degrees Fahrenheit) next week, according to local meteorologists.
    — Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 26 July 2026
Definition of ease

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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 31 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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