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
Even after the snow tapers off, the weekend will remian breezy and cold across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast, with wind gusts of 30 to over 60 mph possible.
—
Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 31 Jan. 2026
Travel conditions are expected to deteriorate rapidly once snow begins, and hazardous conditions could persist into Sunday morning before snow tapers off.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
By the time the snow tapers off Monday morning, New Yorkers could be left with anywhere between 8 and 14 inches of the white stuff.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 24 Jan. 2026
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
Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 31 Jan. 2026
Travel conditions are expected to deteriorate rapidly once snow begins, and hazardous conditions could persist into Sunday morning before snow tapers off.
—Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
By the time the snow tapers off Monday morning, New Yorkers could be left with anywhere between 8 and 14 inches of the white stuff.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 24 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tapers off
Verb
-
As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
17 Feb. 2026
-
Lowering the sales tax 1% decreases the cost of all taxable purchases for all Texans.—
Eleanor Dearman,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
This, in my opinion, diminishes that.—
Rachel Handler,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Maybe, too, Giannis gets hurt again in March and his trade value diminishes a bit more.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The burst of dopamine that triggers motivation simply subsides.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Feb. 2026
-
The right move right now is the one that buys you time, protects your credit as much as possible and gives you space to make clearer decisions once the panic subsides.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
When night falls over the ship, step into the theater to see a jaw-dropping performance.—
Megan duBois,
USA Today,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The State of Texas must pick up on compassionate border security that picks up where the Federal Government falls short.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Their research and resulting report, for instance, found that over the past five recessions, the total GDP declines from dips in tourism averaged a 10% dip.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
15 Feb. 2026
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When the estrogen hormone declines during perimenopause, the body’s insulin sensitivity decreases, too, which affects overall metabolism.—
Alexa Mikhail,
Flow Space,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tapers off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tapers%20off. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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