as in decreased
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually
in the course of the evening the storm steadily waned
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Recent Examples of waned
The greatest decline was among Democrats—from 81 percent to 66 percent—although Republicans’ and Independents’ trust also waned.
—
Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
But in the nineteen-nineties, as regulations tightened, local interest waned.
—Boyce Upholt, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
Their 2024-25 showcased a recurrent theme at Anfield, whereby transfer spending waned.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
However, the enthusiasm revolving around the actor has waned recently with Jordan’s win at the Actor Awards, which is seen as a bellwether for the Oscars, particularly in the lead actor category.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Furthermore, Uthmeier has become state attorney general and the momentum to investigate this issue seems to have waned in the Legislature.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2026
But amid mass firings and shifting priorities, that role has waned.
—ABC News, 5 Mar. 2026
However, that sense of community seems to have waned.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 5 Mar. 2026
The amount of data center space under construction in metro Atlanta hit a record high in 2025, but the rate of expansion waned, a sign that the sector’s explosive growth in recent years can’t exponentially increase forever.
—Drew Kann, AJC.com, 4 Mar. 2026
Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
But in the nineteen-nineties, as regulations tightened, local interest waned.
—Boyce Upholt, New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2026
Their 2024-25 showcased a recurrent theme at Anfield, whereby transfer spending waned.
—Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
However, the enthusiasm revolving around the actor has waned recently with Jordan’s win at the Actor Awards, which is seen as a bellwether for the Oscars, particularly in the lead actor category.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026
Furthermore, Uthmeier has become state attorney general and the momentum to investigate this issue seems to have waned in the Legislature.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2026
But amid mass firings and shifting priorities, that role has waned.
—ABC News, 5 Mar. 2026
However, that sense of community seems to have waned.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 5 Mar. 2026
The amount of data center space under construction in metro Atlanta hit a record high in 2025, but the rate of expansion waned, a sign that the sector’s explosive growth in recent years can’t exponentially increase forever.
—Drew Kann, AJC.com, 4 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waned
Verb
-
The number of Democratic-majority Congressional Districts in North Texas decreased from three to two.—
Jack Fink,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Over all grade levels, enrollment has decreased by about 875 students in the last 12 years while staff levels rose by 185 members.—
Michelle Mullins,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Robinhood’s stock fell 90% in 2022 as the meme stock mania subsided and then flatlined.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Her depression subsided not long after.—
Jamie Ducharme,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Homelessness is a subject that cuts to the core of Mamdani’s vision of a New York where safety and inclusivity are not in conflict, where the quality of life in the city is improved and not diminished by one’s proximity to fellow New Yorkers.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2026
-
None of that diminished its appeal to America’s enemies.—
Adam Ciralsky,
Vanity Fair,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In Greek tragedies, the hero is felled by a fatal flaw.—
Maer Roshan,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Apartment buildings were felled by air strikes, and smoke billowed from the blasts; the buzz of Israeli drones filled the air.—
Rania Abouzeid,
New Yorker,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Prosecutors noted that Martinez fled to Mexico shortly after Marquina vanished.—
Cecilio Padilla,
CBS News,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The 49ers are under no obligation or urgency to rid themselves of Brandon Aiyuk, who vanished last season amid a seemingly positive comeback from 2024 knee surgery.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
West Ham’s defending once caused consternation among the fanbase, but those concerns have slowly ebbed away.—
Roshane Thomas,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Those disorders continue to overwhelm providers years after other pandemic-era mental health crises have ebbed.—
Sonja Sharp,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waned. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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