as in stepped
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as in decreased
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
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Recent Examples of tapered
Malia Griggs, Glamour, 28 May 2026
Boglioli Brown Tinto Terra Linen K-Suit Boglioli’s linen K-Suit consists of its trademark K-Jacket, which has been left unlined and unconstructed for maximum ease, and a pair of single-pleated trousers in a tapered cut.
—Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 25 May 2026
Peregrines have long, stiff, tapered wings that can be subtly shaped and adjusted as needed during flight.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026
This 100 percent cotton pair combines comfort and style with an elastic waist, tapered leg, and feminine lace details.
—Rebecca Shinners, Travel + Leisure, 22 May 2026
Their tapered toeboxes also give them a streamlined presentation.
—Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 17 May 2026
Shop dressy trousers and slacks, flowy ankle pants, tapered styles, and more.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 17 May 2026
Robbie paired the jacket with low-rise tapered trousers.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 13 May 2026
The impact left behind a tapered impact crater basin that, at some 1,600 miles wide and five miles deep, is one of the largest in the solar system.
—Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 11 May 2026
Bloomberg, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026
On either side, the bodice of Blanchett's gown split into two billowing sleeves that tapered at her wrists.
—Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 12 Apr. 2026
Instead of a flowy, wide-leg silhouette, these pants feature a streamlined, tapered fit through the legs, all while keeping the same flexible, comfort-first waistband of most linen pant styles.
—Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2026
The company eventually abandoned that approach, selling the product through retailers, but sales still tapered out.
—Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
Dynamic contrasts were boldly drawn, but phrases and passages were also beautifully tapered, up and down, when they were meant to.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 22 Mar. 2026
Cheetahs have tapered limbs with a lower moment of inertia, which should make running more efficient.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2026
Elevated four feet at the highest point, the steps tapered to the ground and left enough space for the dog to retreat.
—Scott Haugen, Outdoor Life, 4 Feb. 2026
Her wide forehead tapered to a sour mouth and little pointed chin.
—Nell Freudenberger, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Many newer designs rely on strategic ruching, molded cups, or tapered padding rather than stiff foam inserts that feel bulky and dig in.
—Malia Griggs, Glamour, 28 May 2026
Boglioli Brown Tinto Terra Linen K-Suit Boglioli’s linen K-Suit consists of its trademark K-Jacket, which has been left unlined and unconstructed for maximum ease, and a pair of single-pleated trousers in a tapered cut.
—Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 25 May 2026
Peregrines have long, stiff, tapered wings that can be subtly shaped and adjusted as needed during flight.
—Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026
This 100 percent cotton pair combines comfort and style with an elastic waist, tapered leg, and feminine lace details.
—Rebecca Shinners, Travel + Leisure, 22 May 2026
Their tapered toeboxes also give them a streamlined presentation.
—Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 17 May 2026
Shop dressy trousers and slacks, flowy ankle pants, tapered styles, and more.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 17 May 2026
Robbie paired the jacket with low-rise tapered trousers.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 13 May 2026
The impact left behind a tapered impact crater basin that, at some 1,600 miles wide and five miles deep, is one of the largest in the solar system.
—Dan Vergano, Scientific American, 11 May 2026
Verb
The powder blue car was shaped like a torpedo, with Rolls-Royce’s unmistakable vertical grille, an open cockpit and a rear that tapered like a dove.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026
On either side, the bodice of Blanchett's gown split into two billowing sleeves that tapered at her wrists.
—Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 12 Apr. 2026
Instead of a flowy, wide-leg silhouette, these pants feature a streamlined, tapered fit through the legs, all while keeping the same flexible, comfort-first waistband of most linen pant styles.
—Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2026
The company eventually abandoned that approach, selling the product through retailers, but sales still tapered out.
—Itzel Luna, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2026
Dynamic contrasts were boldly drawn, but phrases and passages were also beautifully tapered, up and down, when they were meant to.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas Morning News, 22 Mar. 2026
Cheetahs have tapered limbs with a lower moment of inertia, which should make running more efficient.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 11 Feb. 2026
Elevated four feet at the highest point, the steps tapered to the ground and left enough space for the dog to retreat.
—Scott Haugen, Outdoor Life, 4 Feb. 2026
Her wide forehead tapered to a sour mouth and little pointed chin.
—Nell Freudenberger, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tapered
Verb
-
The sentence was decreased to 30 years weeks later.—
Kori Rumore,
Chicago Tribune,
6 June 2026
-
Brunson, meanwhile, has also received attention for his propensity to draw fouls, but his reliance in that area has decreased.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
5 June 2026
Adjective
-
Extensive design iterations, airworthiness certification, and manufacturing validation requirements make the path to mass production longer and more complex, resulting in a gradual ramp-up in deliveries.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
7 June 2026
-
All spring long, Venus and Jupiter have been playing a gradual version of celestial chicken, driving toward each other.—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
Although the heaviest fighting has subsided, the ceasefire has seen almost daily Israeli fire.—
Melanie Lidman,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2026
-
Not only is inflation on the rise again and currently sitting at its highest point in three years, but the hope for interest rate cuts this year has largely subsided.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
To solve the problem, the team turned to phased arrays, flat electronic antennas that steer radio beams without moving parts.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
30 May 2026
-
Garcia’s phased renovation will continue across the remaining floors; for the best views, ask for an upper-level suite.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Polis wrote in his veto letter that the bill would have diminished incentives for fire departments to participate in the Colorado Firefighter Trust, which replaced state workers’ compensation for firefighters’ cancer claims.—
Seth Klamann,
Denver Post,
4 June 2026
-
Phosphorus has diminished some.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
Adjective
-
Soon, this recognition stretched to include representational painting by younger Black artists, as museums, galleries, and collectors still more clearly signaled their progressive intent.—
Katy Siegel,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
Still, Cepeda and Petro have maintained strong support among many Colombians because of progressive policies advanced under Petro, such as boosting the minimum wage.—
Megan Janetsky,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
Piccotto effectively plays the regret of a mother forced to reckon with the loss of a child, the horror of engaging with that child again, while also grappling with her own role as a mother felled by the scourge of addiction.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
-
In a Western Conference Final where a few other key Colorado Avalanche players are already playing through injuries, the NHL’s leading goal scorer this season was felled trying to prevent someone else from scoring.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
The couple said the raids eased after federal immigration agents killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minnesota.—
Ruben Vives,
Los Angeles Times,
7 June 2026
-
Resistance to artificial turf might be eased if the city had taken the time to explain in great detail its benefits and risks.—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tapered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tapered. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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