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
Melony Forcier, InStyle, 4 Mar. 2026
This dripping results in most of the water freezing at the base, with less freezing at the tip, giving it a tapered shape.
—Ray Petelin, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2026
Markle’s tapered trousers featured a front crease and a wide-leg silhouette.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 25 Feb. 2026
The Potomac frame forgoes sharp lines fora curved cutout headboard and tapered posts.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 19 Feb. 2026
Straight cut, cigarette, stovepipe, pencil jeans -- all of these are names for variations on a jean cut close to the body with a non-tapered ankle that's nearly universally flattering and looks fresh again.
—Kelsey Legg, ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
Honesuki knives have a tapered triangular blade with a sharp tip and a sturdy spine.
—Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Feb. 2026
Dress them up or down depending on the occasion, but my favorite way to sport them is with a simple white tee, boyfriend blazer, and tapered pair of light-wash denim.
—Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 11 Feb. 2026
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
This Dad Jean cut is especially good, bridging the gap between relaxed and tapered with a straight-leg silhouette and non-stretch denim.
—Annie Blackman, InStyle, 28 Jan. 2026
Her wide forehead tapered to a sour mouth and little pointed chin.
—Nell Freudenberger, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
But Juurlink found a case report from 1990 that documented a breast-feeding mother producing a milk sample whose concentration was fifteen per cent higher than Rani’s—and that was after the woman’s morphine dosage had been tapered by ninety per cent.
—Ben Taub, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
Finishes can also be adjusted by fit, meaning the process can be applied to the wide variety of jeans in the market like tapered, straight, wide or barrel.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 12 Jan. 2026
It’s slightly tapered, but not tight.
—Kevin Gray, Travel + Leisure, 18 Dec. 2025
While fund ownership of Saudi stocks hit a record high in 2025, growth has tapered in recent months, according to Copley Fund Research.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 15 Dec. 2025
Adjective
Lillusory Cardigan Pants Matching Set Nothing says spring better than a pastel cardigan, and this comfy set from Lillusory comes with an oversized button-down sweater and a pair of matching tapered pants for a complete look that can be worn on repeat.
—Melony Forcier, InStyle, 4 Mar. 2026
This dripping results in most of the water freezing at the base, with less freezing at the tip, giving it a tapered shape.
—Ray Petelin, CBS News, 28 Feb. 2026
Markle’s tapered trousers featured a front crease and a wide-leg silhouette.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 25 Feb. 2026
The Potomac frame forgoes sharp lines fora curved cutout headboard and tapered posts.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 19 Feb. 2026
Straight cut, cigarette, stovepipe, pencil jeans -- all of these are names for variations on a jean cut close to the body with a non-tapered ankle that's nearly universally flattering and looks fresh again.
—Kelsey Legg, ABC News, 18 Feb. 2026
Honesuki knives have a tapered triangular blade with a sharp tip and a sturdy spine.
—Wilder Davies, Bon Appetit Magazine, 17 Feb. 2026
Dress them up or down depending on the occasion, but my favorite way to sport them is with a simple white tee, boyfriend blazer, and tapered pair of light-wash denim.
—Lane Nieset, Travel + Leisure, 11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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
This Dad Jean cut is especially good, bridging the gap between relaxed and tapered with a straight-leg silhouette and non-stretch denim.
—Annie Blackman, InStyle, 28 Jan. 2026
Her wide forehead tapered to a sour mouth and little pointed chin.
—Nell Freudenberger, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
But Juurlink found a case report from 1990 that documented a breast-feeding mother producing a milk sample whose concentration was fifteen per cent higher than Rani’s—and that was after the woman’s morphine dosage had been tapered by ninety per cent.
—Ben Taub, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026
Finishes can also be adjusted by fit, meaning the process can be applied to the wide variety of jeans in the market like tapered, straight, wide or barrel.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 12 Jan. 2026
It’s slightly tapered, but not tight.
—Kevin Gray, Travel + Leisure, 18 Dec. 2025
While fund ownership of Saudi stocks hit a record high in 2025, growth has tapered in recent months, according to Copley Fund Research.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 15 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tapered
Verb
-
Drone strikes have decreased by 83%.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Though on Saturday, MDFR said smoke in the area had greatly decreased compared to Thursday and Friday.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
7 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
But for those looking to up their fiber intake, Feller recommends a gradual approach to minimize unwanted gastrointestinal symptoms that come with too much fiber, like gas, bloating and or constipation.—
Emilee Coblentz,
Outside,
8 Mar. 2026
-
And in mid-February, Homan announced the end of Operation Metro Surge, starting a gradual drawdown of federal agents.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The settling of chairs subsided, people shifted into comfortable postures, some laid out on the carpet.—
Sofia Zarran,
Miami Herald,
7 Mar. 2026
-
And, unlike longer alternatives like 2-year or 5-year CD options, savers will maintain some flexibility to pivot here in 2027 after the current market volatility may have subsided.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Create phased repair plans for critical maintenance over 10 years.—
Devyani Chhetri,
Dallas Morning News,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Construction, which will include an exterior remodeling, is expected to begin later this year with phased openings, including additional retail, dining and wellness concepts, in 2028.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Liverpool’s transition threat has diminished.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Extensive research shows that insufficient sleep is associated with impaired cognitive function, chronic health problems, diminished productivity and an increase in traffic accidents, just to name a few.—
Stephen Neely,
The Conversation,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Fracturing of conservative communities leads a veteran Republican to retire and could help some incumbent Democrats fend off progressive challengers.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The results represent a victory for the ruling Historic Pact, which has campaigned on promising to continue Petro’s program of progressive economic reforms.—
Alfie Pannell,
Miami Herald,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Apartment buildings were felled by air strikes, and smoke billowed from the blasts; the buzz of Israeli drones filled the air.—
Rania Abouzeid,
New Yorker,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Too many people, particularly those in my age group, have been felled by a cold that morphed into pneumonia, or a UTI that landed them in the hospital, or a simple stumble on a floor mat that resulted in surgery and months of physical therapy.—
Donna Vickroy,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The survey showed permanent staff appointments continued to fall in February, but the pace of decline was the slowest since March 2023, and wage pressures eased as the pool of job-seekers continues to rise.—
Irina Anghel,
Bloomberg,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The Treasury Department eased curbs late Thursday on India’s ability to buy Russian oil.—
Bloomberg Wire,
Dallas Morning News,
6 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tapered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tapered. Accessed 12 Mar. 2026.
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