as in decreased
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually
at this time of the year, light begins to taper off a little earlier each day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tapered off
After the initial surge following the Tuesday Instagram post upping the reward, the number of calls to the sheriff's department has tapered off, sources said.
—
Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026
The questions about the interceptions have tapered off with his high schoolers.
—Jeff Howe, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Things tapered off down the stretch.
—D. Orlando Ledbetter, AJC.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Lastly, Vanderbilt transfer JaQualon Roberts has an opportunity to make an immediate impact after his play-time with the Commodores tapered off in his sophomore season.
—Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2025
Most areas saw trace amounts of rainfall, less than a tenth of an inch, before the showers tapered off by midmorning.
—Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 22 Oct. 2025
One patient had suffered a horrific motorcycle injury and eventually tapered off opioids with the help of cannabis.
—NPR, 20 Oct. 2025
In order to reconcile some of the cost increases, a large swathe of American fashion companies have frontloaded inventory—a phenomenon first seen during the winter and spring months, which tapered off as the China tariffs took effect.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 20 Oct. 2025
Then the hurricane continued on a more northward path around the islands and finally began weakening after powerful 145 mph winds tapered off.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026
The questions about the interceptions have tapered off with his high schoolers.
—Jeff Howe, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Things tapered off down the stretch.
—D. Orlando Ledbetter, AJC.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Lastly, Vanderbilt transfer JaQualon Roberts has an opportunity to make an immediate impact after his play-time with the Commodores tapered off in his sophomore season.
—Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2025
Most areas saw trace amounts of rainfall, less than a tenth of an inch, before the showers tapered off by midmorning.
—Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 22 Oct. 2025
One patient had suffered a horrific motorcycle injury and eventually tapered off opioids with the help of cannabis.
—NPR, 20 Oct. 2025
In order to reconcile some of the cost increases, a large swathe of American fashion companies have frontloaded inventory—a phenomenon first seen during the winter and spring months, which tapered off as the China tariffs took effect.
—Kate Nishimura, Sourcing Journal, 20 Oct. 2025
Then the hurricane continued on a more northward path around the islands and finally began weakening after powerful 145 mph winds tapered off.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tapered off
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
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
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
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 specks of warmth salvaged from the inside of the patrol car, which had clung to his skin under his gray sweatpants and hooded striped sweatshirt, soon fell away.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Midway through a steep sidehill, with a tough right turn at the bottom, racers had to fight to find the fastest line into a hard right turn as the mountain fell away in the other direction.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tapered off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tapered%20off. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
