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
New Atlas, 6 Feb. 2026
The interview range will come with a sweatshirt and tapered pants, inspired by French Olympic archives from the ’70s, while the podium and ceremony range will hinge on more elevated designs, including a beige duffle coat and down jacket.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 6 Feb. 2026
Raw indigo straight-leg jeans, slim tapered jeans with rip and repair details and wide-leg shorts with carpenter panels—offered in black and plum—are other denim highlights.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 6 Feb. 2026
Yellow Sunrise is a new variety of a vertical-growing pothos species (Epipremnum pinnatum) with tapered leaves, bright yellow marbling, and fenestrations or cuts of the kind seen on split leaf philodendron (Monstera deliciosa).
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 6 Feb. 2026
The ball of the shoe to the heel has a tapered height, with the heel reaching three inches for a little extra thickness.
—Olivia Dubyak, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2026
The tapered bottoms pair nicely with slides or sneakers, and the cardigan easily works as a standalone piece, too.
—Annie Blackman, InStyle, 5 Feb. 2026
Its tapered legs and subtle ornamentation give it an old world quality that still looks right at home in a contemporary designscape.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 5 Feb. 2026
Beijing has reinforced this shift by ending its full tax exemption for EV purchases and replacing it with a tapered 5% tax on EV buyers.
—Hengrui Liu, The Conversation, 29 Jan. 2026
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
According to CNEVPost, despite a strong initial reception, sales have tapered, with November deliveries falling to 4,870 units—one of the lowest monthly figures this year.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 29 Dec. 2025
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
The interior layout remains unchanged with the tapered rear bedroom, central sofa/dining lounge with two convertible single beds, hallway-spanning dry bathroom with separate shower and toilet/sink rooms, and rear galley.
—New Atlas, 6 Feb. 2026
The interview range will come with a sweatshirt and tapered pants, inspired by French Olympic archives from the ’70s, while the podium and ceremony range will hinge on more elevated designs, including a beige duffle coat and down jacket.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 6 Feb. 2026
Raw indigo straight-leg jeans, slim tapered jeans with rip and repair details and wide-leg shorts with carpenter panels—offered in black and plum—are other denim highlights.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 6 Feb. 2026
Yellow Sunrise is a new variety of a vertical-growing pothos species (Epipremnum pinnatum) with tapered leaves, bright yellow marbling, and fenestrations or cuts of the kind seen on split leaf philodendron (Monstera deliciosa).
—Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 6 Feb. 2026
The ball of the shoe to the heel has a tapered height, with the heel reaching three inches for a little extra thickness.
—Olivia Dubyak, Travel + Leisure, 5 Feb. 2026
The tapered bottoms pair nicely with slides or sneakers, and the cardigan easily works as a standalone piece, too.
—Annie Blackman, InStyle, 5 Feb. 2026
Its tapered legs and subtle ornamentation give it an old world quality that still looks right at home in a contemporary designscape.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 5 Feb. 2026
Beijing has reinforced this shift by ending its full tax exemption for EV purchases and replacing it with a tapered 5% tax on EV buyers.
—Hengrui Liu, The Conversation, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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
According to CNEVPost, despite a strong initial reception, sales have tapered, with November deliveries falling to 4,870 units—one of the lowest monthly figures this year.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 29 Dec. 2025
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
-
After three months of highs, pepper spray use and violent incidents sharply decreased at the end of the year.—
Jason Henry,
Daily News,
1 Feb. 2026
-
Dublin, Pleasanton and Livermore schools are all grappling with multi-million dollar budget deficits in the 2026-27 school year, with the districts citing declining enrollment and decreased state and federal funding as having created budget holes that will likely lead to difficult decisions.—
Kyle Martin,
Mercury News,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The model successfully reproduced multiple cycles seen during the satellite era, including the gradual shift of sunspots from higher latitudes toward the solar equator—a key indicator of how a cycle develops.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Feb. 2026
-
The most effective approach combines resistance training, smart exercise selection and gradual progression of weight or number of reps over time.—
Daryl Austin,
USA Today,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
While the heat on Greenland has subsided for now, the infighting has seriously undercut the ability of the world’s biggest security alliance to deter adversaries, analysts say.—
Lorne Cook,
Fortune,
1 Feb. 2026
-
The pain subsided gradually over a few weeks.—
Patricia Tortolani,
Allure,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Northwood, based in southern California, makes phased array antennas, mobile ground infrastructure that increases satellites’ connectivity to Earth.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
After several years of phased construction and testing, the project has entered its final pre-launch stage, with officials confirming that passenger services will begin rolling out later this year.—
Keith J Fernandez,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The mood around EVs can be attributed to many factors, such as the loss of federal tax credits in 2025; the end of emissions waivers and revenues from carbon credits; and diminished aftermarket values as consumers fear battery degradation and anticipate quickly evolving technologies.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Davie’s successor will inherit an organization wrestling with its place in a media ecosystem dominated by overseas tech giants, as well as battling enemies closer to home, with conservative politicians and media proprietors wishing to see the BBC diminished during charter renewal.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
But even at a progressive institution like Antioch, Coretta encountered the quiet betrayal of liberal hypocrisy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
-
But donations from progressive groups have only rarely flowed their way.—
Charles Duhigg,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
When a newspaper is felled by careless or malicious owners, millions of people are hurt, in big ways and small ways and ways that are impossible to measure.—
Alexandra Petri,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2026
-
France passes budget after failed no-confidence votes France passed an annual budget, ending a long-running debacle that felled prime ministers, amplified support for the far right, and raised doubts over the country’s long-term finances.—
Alexander Onukwue,
semafor.com,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But the schedule eased a bit with this game against Maryland and a matchup next weekend with an Oregon team that's also near the bottom of the Big Ten.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
2 Feb. 2026
-
Vonn walked gingerly for a moment, then clipped back into her skis and eased her own way down the mountain, visibly in discomfort.—
Zack Pierce,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tapered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tapered. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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