tones (down)

verb

present tense third-person singular of tone (down)
as in tapers (off)

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Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tones (down)
  1. decreases
  2. muffles
  3. blunts
  4. numbs
  5. reduces
  6. mutes
  7. diminishes
  8. damps
Verb
  • An autonomous vertical sail uses suction technology to draw air over this shape, creating propulsive thrust that decreases the mechanical burden on the vessel’s primary engines.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Perhaps seawater’s viscosity — which decreases as temperature increases, making the water thinner —affects ciliary movements, Shapiro said.
    — Marlowe Starling, Quanta Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of decreases
Verb
  • Although the snow sometimes muffles the thunder, the lightning can be seen, said meteorologist Grant Gilmore, formerly of WFMY-TV in Greensboro, North Carolina.
    — Doyle Rice, USA Today, 25 Nov. 2025
Definition of muffles
Verb
  • And that success blunts the effectiveness of what the Iranians are trying to do at the Strait of Hormuz.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026
  • Several studies show that dietary fiber blunts the blood sugar response, helping prevent spikes and dips.
    — Brittany Lubeck, Verywell Health, 8 July 2026
Definition of blunts
Verb
  • The slime of some species also numbs an attacker’s tongue, protecting them from predators.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 July 2026
  • This is the type of consistency that numbs fans from their love of the game.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2026
Definition of numbs
Verb
  • This eliminates manual handoffs, reduces errors and ensures cash flow is tracked from the first quote, not after the fact.
    — Ashish Srimal, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Swapping every other drink for a non-alcoholic option reduces total consumption and creates longer gaps between servings.
    — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of reduces
Verb
  • The boom automatically mutes the microphone when lifted and can answer incoming calls simply by being lowered.
    — Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026
  • Using a vegetable peeler, shave a modest amount of Parmesan onto a plate (a mound of grated Parmesan may look impressive, but all that clumpy cheese mutes the dressing).
    — Sue Li, Bon Appetit Magazine, 12 June 2026
Definition of mutes
Verb
  • Screening cover diminishes, and the birds will almost always be in lowland covers that offer both security and food.
    — Tom Huggler, Outdoor Life, 13 Aug. 2026
  • When your nervous system becomes overwhelmed, your ability to access your best thinking, empathy, creativity and judgment diminishes.
    — Sharon A. Kuhn, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of diminishes
Verb
  • Ash wood damps the micro-vibrations of rough urban pavement in a way aluminum and steel can't match without extra engineering.
    — Omar Kardoudi April 15, New Atlas, 15 Apr. 2026
  • While the standard model damps the road irregularities, the S feels more glued down, even in its softest setting, Sport.
    — Basem Wasef, Robb Report, 25 Feb. 2026
Definition of damps
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.

Browse Nearby Words

tones
tones (down)
tones (up)
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Cite this Entry

“Tones (down).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tones%20%28down%29. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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