as in decreasing
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
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Recent Examples of tapering off
For most movies, the opening weekend is the most lucrative, with ticket sales tapering off from there.
—
Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 31 May 2026
Overnight showers and thunderstorms are tapering off across the Kansas City metro, but forecasters say the bigger concern comes later Monday, when severe weather is likely, the National Weather Service said.
—Kansas City Star, 18 May 2026
Showers could linger into Wednesday night before gradually tapering off, with cooler air settling in and lows dropping into the 50s.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 4 May 2026
There may be some consolation in the fact that some housing experts, like Cotality's chief economist, Selma Hepp, think that the recent period of skyrocketing housing costs may be tapering off.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
On Saturday, Ventura County could see wind gusts between 20 and 30 mph, and isolated gusts of 40 mph, starting in the mid-morning and tapering off later in the afternoon.
—Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
The security line situation could be tapering off.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Players Era’s rapid expansion plans could be tapering off.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 29 Mar. 2026
In Houston’s climate, some pollen may appear as early as January, but concentrations typically peak in early to mid-spring before tapering off.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 24 Mar. 2026
Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 31 May 2026
Overnight showers and thunderstorms are tapering off across the Kansas City metro, but forecasters say the bigger concern comes later Monday, when severe weather is likely, the National Weather Service said.
—Kansas City Star, 18 May 2026
Showers could linger into Wednesday night before gradually tapering off, with cooler air settling in and lows dropping into the 50s.
—Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 4 May 2026
There may be some consolation in the fact that some housing experts, like Cotality's chief economist, Selma Hepp, think that the recent period of skyrocketing housing costs may be tapering off.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 28 Apr. 2026
On Saturday, Ventura County could see wind gusts between 20 and 30 mph, and isolated gusts of 40 mph, starting in the mid-morning and tapering off later in the afternoon.
—Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
The security line situation could be tapering off.
—Aj Willingham, AJC.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Players Era’s rapid expansion plans could be tapering off.
—Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 29 Mar. 2026
In Houston’s climate, some pollen may appear as early as January, but concentrations typically peak in early to mid-spring before tapering off.
—Newsroom Meteorologist, Houston Chronicle, 24 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tapering off
Verb
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Over time, the theory goes, this will disrupt the reproduction cycle, thereby increasing competition and decreasing the overall population.—
Joe Wilkins,
Futurism,
4 June 2026
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Following the trade, Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust will own 360 shares of DOV, decreasing its weighting in the portfolio to about 2% from 3%.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Trump has also proposed slashing nearly $800 million from the park system’s roughly $3-billion operating budget — potentially diminishing the ability to keep facilities clean and control crowds.—
Jack Dolan,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
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The singer-songwriter’s forthright and wistful new record, Philadelphia’s Been Good to Me, is an exercise in revisitation that yields expanding, not diminishing, returns.—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Breezy winds return on Tuesday after subsiding somewhat on Monday.—
Rachael Jay,
CBS News,
2 May 2026
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But there were no signs that the conflict was subsiding.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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But the memorandum drafted between Kyiv and Washington on an early-stage drone deal appears to suggest those obstacles may be falling away.—
Aidan Stretch,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
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On Wednesday, Mikel Arteta’s side face Bayer Leverkusen, who sit sixth in the Bundesliga after falling away since their famous unbeaten title-winning season in 2023-24.—
Conor O'Neill,
New York Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Writers and reporters at the conference are learning how to improve their coverage of topics, including changes to education at the federal and state levels, the use of artificial intelligence in schools, and declining enrollment.—
Kellye Lynn,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
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As Hartford education officials work to mitigate a large budget deficit, a report from an outside firm The Connecticut State Department of Education hired to review Hartford Public Schools’ financials found that declining enrollment and decisions regarding salaries and hiring are to blame.—
Livi Stanford,
Hartford Courant,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Like India, Indonesia has been wrestling with a falling currency, and on May 20, the country's central bank raised its policy interest rates by a larger-than-expected 50 basis points.—
Sri Jegarajah,Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
3 June 2026
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Anyone who likes keeping the balcony doors open at night and falling asleep to the sound of crashing waves should enjoy the Ocean Rooms.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tapering off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tapering%20off. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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