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
  • The longer-term concern is whether the state will have to cover more of the cost if federal support decreases.
    — Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 13 July 2026
  • Discuss Hidden Factors Instead Of Selling Features In high-trust industries, skepticism usually decreases when the conversation becomes less transactional and more observational.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 8 July 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
  • Several studies show that dietary fiber blunts the blood sugar response, helping prevent spikes and dips.
    — Brittany Lubeck, Verywell Health, 8 July 2026
  • The cinematography drains vitality from even its most visually obvious ideas with lighting that blunts the impact of nearly every other department.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 25 Mar. 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
  • First, adding nutrients reduces the amount of carbon that plants send below ground to microbes.
    — Esther Ndumi Ngumbi, The Conversation, 8 July 2026
  • Classifying workers as independent contractors reduces overhead, simplifies hiring and feels flexible.
    — Gary Galstyan, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of reduces
Verb
  • 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
  • Canned water chestnuts are blanched before packing, which mutes their flavor slightly but preserves their crispness.
    — Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2026
Definition of mutes
Verb
  • Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.
    — NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 8 July 2026
  • However, when those same checks are repeated across disconnected organizations, their value diminishes while their cost increases.
    — John Bou, Forbes.com, 7 July 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 Jul. 2026.

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