as in decreases
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 tapers off
As the snow tapers off, arctic air will pour in behind it.
—
Joseph Dames, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
The threat gradually tapers off later Friday as the system moves east and winds slowly diminish.
—Brandi D. Addison, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 13 Jan. 2026
New accumulation should be no more than an inch, though, then a high near 31 as the precipitation tapers off Sunday morning.
—Jr Radcliffe, jsonline.com, 8 Jan. 2026
But the rain chance tapers off on Sunday, with a 40% chance.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
But as children become adults, their involvement in athletics typically tapers off — opting to watch sports games from the couch rather than participating in them.
—Hadley Hitson, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
Joseph Dames, CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
The threat gradually tapers off later Friday as the system moves east and winds slowly diminish.
—Brandi D. Addison, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 13 Jan. 2026
New accumulation should be no more than an inch, though, then a high near 31 as the precipitation tapers off Sunday morning.
—Jr Radcliffe, jsonline.com, 8 Jan. 2026
But the rain chance tapers off on Sunday, with a 40% chance.
—Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 13 Sep. 2025
But as children become adults, their involvement in athletics typically tapers off — opting to watch sports games from the couch rather than participating in them.
—Hadley Hitson, The Tennessean, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tapers off
Verb
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Taking this into account, the probability of the event occurring under the alternative hypothesis decreases, making that scenario less likely.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
24 Jan. 2026
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Reduce watering during the winter as growth decreases, and increase humidity by using a humidifier.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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As data center revenue starts to dominate sales, hyperscale ASIC initiatives transition into sustained volume, and customer diversification diminishes earnings variability, Marvell begins to resemble less of a cyclical component supplier and more of a structural AI infrastructure platform.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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The biography is presented as a clear-eyed and evenhanded examination of Reid’s complex legacy that neither whitewashes his methods nor diminishes his accomplishments.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
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At others, the episode tails off; dialogue subsides into silence, as though by default.—
Dan Sheehan,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
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Lahey said normal response to intense emotional stress typically subsides quickly.—
Donna Vickroy,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The cold air is then expected to stay in place through the beginning of February, ensuring that whatever snow falls this weekend will stay on the ground for a while.—
Matthew Villafane,
CBS News,
25 Jan. 2026
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Only one other player has been ever elected by the writers with 1,500 or fewer hits — Roy Campanella (1,422) in 1969 — and that total falls far short of the average career hit mark for all Hall of Fame batters, which is 2,330.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Using rolling peaks, which measure declines from the most recent market high rather than calendar periods, the S & P 500 has gone 185 days without a 10% drawdown, a stretch that, by itself, does not signal an imminent correction.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
26 Jan. 2026
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Calls for repeal come with leaders of Balboa Park museums and other organizations saying that declines in park visits have ranged from 20% to more than 50% and that overall annual revenue could drop by $20 million to $30 million.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tapers off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tapers%20off. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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