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
Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 1 May 2026
Just look at the tapered legs on the base and minimalist cabinet doors with antique brass hardware.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 28 Apr. 2026
Clean Candle Wax Off of Fabric Anyone who has ever used tapered candles during a dinner party knows the frustrations of cleaning candle wax out of a tablecloth.
—Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 23 Apr. 2026
The car’s most eye-catching feature is arguably its tapered posterior.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 14 Apr. 2026
The long, tapered length adds to the edgy effect.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 12 Apr. 2026
The Lou & Grey Heathered Scubasoft Joggers are about to be your new in-flight uniform, featuring a tapered silhouette and stretchy elastic waistband that moves with you.
—Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2026
This lightweight dress is effortlessly beautiful with refined details, including a smocked waistline that creates a tapered silhouette.
—Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
Others have already been assembled and outfitted with their tapered nosecones, and are ready to be stacked atop a first-stage booster, taking final shape as SpaceX’s 40-story Starship rockets.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 28 Mar. 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
The style features bold, elongated lines that run from the pointy upper to the tapered heel.
—Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 1 May 2026
Just look at the tapered legs on the base and minimalist cabinet doors with antique brass hardware.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 28 Apr. 2026
Clean Candle Wax Off of Fabric Anyone who has ever used tapered candles during a dinner party knows the frustrations of cleaning candle wax out of a tablecloth.
—Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 23 Apr. 2026
The car’s most eye-catching feature is arguably its tapered posterior.
—Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 14 Apr. 2026
The long, tapered length adds to the edgy effect.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 12 Apr. 2026
The Lou & Grey Heathered Scubasoft Joggers are about to be your new in-flight uniform, featuring a tapered silhouette and stretchy elastic waistband that moves with you.
—Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2026
This lightweight dress is effortlessly beautiful with refined details, including a smocked waistline that creates a tapered silhouette.
—Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 9 Apr. 2026
Others have already been assembled and outfitted with their tapered nosecones, and are ready to be stacked atop a first-stage booster, taking final shape as SpaceX’s 40-story Starship rockets.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 28 Mar. 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
-
Last year, the number of officers killed decreased, both in terms of officers killed as a result of felonious acts and those killed accidentally.—
Kenneth D. Robinson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 May 2026
-
In addition, overall passenger numbers decreased 20% after Spirit exited a route, which indicates that rival airlines did not immediately step forward to fill the void.—
David Lyons,
Sun Sentinel,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
The morning appetite is a different animal from its midday and evening counterparts; there is no growing anticipation, no gradual negotiation, no consideration of snacks or other stopgaps.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
3 May 2026
-
The gradual acceleration built over days and stitches.—
John Romano,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Since 2015, the ground in parts of the Tulare Lake area has subsided more than 6 feet, while part of the Tule area has dropped more than 7 feet.—
Ian James,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
-
Now that the euphoria of David Pastrnak’s overtime game-winner has now subsided, the Bruins get back to the business of staving off elimination at the hands of the Buffalo Sabres in Friday’s Game 6 at the Garden.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The phased demolition of the Lincolnwood Town Center is expected to begin in May, with demolition of the building most recently known as Harlem Furniture, located on the southeast side closest to McCormick Boulevard.—
Pioneer Press,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Create phased repair plans for critical maintenance over 10 years.—
Devyani Chhetri,
Dallas Morning News,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
However, Apple hasn’t followed its megacap peers in sinking tens of billions of dollars into building out AI infrastructure, which has diminished the stock’s correlation to the rest of the tech industry.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Still, the music flourished on terrestrial radio and music-video television, two venues for mass musical experiences whose power has diminished drastically in the streaming era.—
Jack Hamilton,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Knock on doors, raise money for progressive candidates, and mobilize your friends, neighbors, colleagues and acquaintances.—
Robert B. Reich,
Hartford Courant,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Despite taking a progressive stand on labor, the Church nonetheless defended industrialization and private-property rights, forging a middle way that rejected both unfettered capitalism and socialism.—
Elias Wachtel,
The Atlantic,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But before he was felled at age 68 by a heart attack, Joiner had shared what was in the briefcase with the lead Louisiana State Police investigator on the case, Stefan Montgomery, Joiner's son and the LSP confirmed.—
Stephanie Gosk,
NBC news,
28 Apr. 2026
-
John Adams famously wrote to his wife, Abigail, that smallpox was killing 10 soldiers for every one felled in battle.—
Katrine L. Wallace,
The Conversation,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Church’s combination of talent, affability, and fine manners eased his way into New York’s élite, sometimes inspiring envy among his painter friends.—
Sebastian Smee,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
But the Tribune found many cases where the petitions eased the way for hospitals to discharge patients to subpar nursing homes, sometimes bypassing family members who disagreed with the hospital’s choice or were slow to make other arrangements.—
Christy Gutowski,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tapered.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tapered. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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