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
Acuna’s show business resume tapers off in the mid-2010’s, according to IMDB.
—
Matt Donnelly, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026
After the strongest storms move out, colder air will settle in with the possibility of a few wet snowflakes before the precipitation tapers off.
—Gregory Padgett, CBS News, 14 Mar. 2026
The sharp tanginess of the vinegar tapers off when cooked, lending subtle brightness to dishes.
—Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 12 Mar. 2026
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
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
Matt Donnelly, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026
After the strongest storms move out, colder air will settle in with the possibility of a few wet snowflakes before the precipitation tapers off.
—Gregory Padgett, CBS News, 14 Mar. 2026
The sharp tanginess of the vinegar tapers off when cooked, lending subtle brightness to dishes.
—Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 12 Mar. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tapers off
Verb
-
As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
28 Apr. 2026
-
This risk decreases as the storm moves away.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
If the College Football Playoff expands, the urgency of the regular season diminishes by comparison, and in a sport that had, inarguably, the greatest regular season in sports, that's a huge blow.—
Austin Perry OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
8 May 2026
-
Art thrives on openness, and any narrowing of that space diminishes it.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
The chafing is bad enough, but even worse, after the initial irritation subsides, my legs are embarrassingly left with dark spots and hyperpigmentation.—
Alicia Geigel,
Southern Living,
3 May 2026
-
When their happiness subsides, Spurs will worry about the severity of the injuries suffered by Dominic Solanke and Xavi Simons, with both forced off at Molineux.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
On both sides of the street, the sidewalk rises and falls, uprooted and cracked by shallow roots because over many decades, the trees were not properly maintained.—
Steve Lopez,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2026
-
The youngest Issa falls somewhere in between her sisters’ styles.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
The book club always politely declines, given its specific chemistry.—
Maddie Connors,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
-
Interest rates don't tell the full story One supposed silver-lining in the economy of 2026 that consumers had been hopeful was still ahead is a lower-rate environment as inflation declines, but the war and the surge in oil prices has upended the policymaking assumptions of central banks.—
Kevin Williams,
CNBC,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tapers off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tapers%20off. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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