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
Jaimie Potters, InStyle, 15 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
Amanda Le, InStyle, 12 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
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
For the 98th Academy Awards, Roach is sporting a short pixie-like look complete with piecey, tousled layers and tapered sides.
—Jaimie Potters, InStyle, 15 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
The cut is tapered and layered toward the back–behind the ears where hair tends to have most density–while leaving slightly longer pieces in the front for easy movement and face-framing shape.
—Amanda Le, InStyle, 12 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
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
-
Tehran praised its attack as a show of strength, even as Israel's military asserts that Iranian missile launches have decreased since the war began.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Voting by mail has decreased since its peak during the COVID-19 pandemic.—
Maureen Groppe,
USA Today,
22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Ari Baylor, a 42-year-old from Rockville, Maryland, said his political shift has been gradual, but no less disorienting.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Psychological readiness is an important factor in safe return to play and reinjury risk, making gradual exposure through both imagery and real-world practice, along with open discussion and validation of fear, essential parts of recovery.—
Ian McMahan,
New York Times,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
My awe had barely subsided when, two minutes later, James got the ball, raced just past the free-throw line, and took flight.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
-
The threat of the Wahiawa Dam failing has subsided as water levels gradually subside, but any heavy pockets of rain could cause rapid water rises and reinvigorate the threat.—
Kyle Reiman,
ABC News,
22 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
-
Homelessness is a subject that cuts to the core of Mamdani’s vision of a New York where safety and inclusivity are not in conflict, where the quality of life in the city is improved and not diminished by one’s proximity to fellow New Yorkers.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2026
-
None of that diminished its appeal to America’s enemies.—
Adam Ciralsky,
Vanity Fair,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
One is to follow the approach of Minnesota and other progressive states and convert deductions or exclusions to refundable credits.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
22 Mar. 2026
-
Thirty-five study participants received relaxation therapy, consisting of deep breathing exercises and progressive muscle relaxation techniques.—
Maggie O'Neill,
Outside,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Only a shadow of these forests’ old-growth trees remain as their second-growth progeny continue to be felled.—
Evan Mills,
Mercury News,
15 Mar. 2026
-
In Greek tragedies, the hero is felled by a fatal flaw.—
Maer Roshan,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Lines for films eased and the number of brand activations thinned, but celebrities were still circulating — Leslie Mann and Maude Apatow grabbed Terry Black’s on Wednesday.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Mar. 2026
-
England eased through qualifying for the tournament with a perfect eight wins out of eight, with victories over Serbia and Albania earned last time out in November.—
David Ornstein,
New York Times,
20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tapered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tapered. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
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