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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of taper off
Though biting tends to taper off after three, Herpst said biting can continue depending on when that child meets certain developmental milestones, like language development, for example.
—
Beki San Martin, Freep.com, 28 Oct. 2025
Most areas saw trace amounts of rainfall, less than a tenth of an inch, before the showers tapered off by midmorning.
—Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 22 Oct. 2025
One patient had suffered a horrific motorcycle injury and eventually tapered off opioids with the help of cannabis.
—NPR, 20 Oct. 2025
In order to reconcile some of the cost increases, a large swathe of American fashion companies have frontloaded inventory—a phenomenon first seen during the winter and spring months, which tapered off as the China tariffs took effect.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for taper off
Beki San Martin, Freep.com, 28 Oct. 2025
Most areas saw trace amounts of rainfall, less than a tenth of an inch, before the showers tapered off by midmorning.
—Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 22 Oct. 2025
One patient had suffered a horrific motorcycle injury and eventually tapered off opioids with the help of cannabis.
—NPR, 20 Oct. 2025
In order to reconcile some of the cost increases, a large swathe of American fashion companies have frontloaded inventory—a phenomenon first seen during the winter and spring months, which tapered off as the China tariffs took effect.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 20 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for taper off
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taper off
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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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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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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When asked about its plans, McDonald's declined to comment to Fox News Digital.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
10 Jan. 2026
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Due to ongoing litigation, the airline declined to comment further.—
Marina Watts,
PEOPLE,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Video of the moment posted on TikTok showed Malone raising his cup and leaning over, as the edge of the stage fell away during the Arizona show.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Jan. 2026
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Shorter wavelengths fall away and reds and oranges remain.—
MacKenzie Sigalos,
CNBC,
1 Jan. 2026
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
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
Cite this Entry
“Taper off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taper%20off. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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