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
Of course, those cookies and cakes were still high in carbs and sugar, and their popularity waned from there.
—
Kara Nesvig, Parents, 24 Feb. 2026
Normally a fun-loving guy, his confidence obviously waned at the end of the ’25 season, and the Cubs need the old Imanaga to return in ’26.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
So, when Netflix and others launched streaming services, physical distribution eventually waned.
—Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Those criticisms waned over time, as Jackson’s work helped better the lives of Americans across the country.
—The Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Feb. 2026
Devers spent the offseason working on his defense and has been one of many infielders in camp working with Ron Washington, whose passion for teaching infield defense hasn’t waned after undergoing a quadruple bypass heart surgery last year.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
Jackson’s activism has not waned in the aftermath of the Parkinson’s diagnosis.
—Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 17 Feb. 2026
Jackson’s prominence waned in the 2000s, in part because there were now so many Black leaders in politics, business and entertainment that the idea of one Black leader who spoke for the entire community seemed passe.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 17 Feb. 2026
But interest in that format waned as defense and effort became increasingly sparse, and the game hit rock bottom in 2024 when the East beat the West, 211-186.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 16 Feb. 2026
Kara Nesvig, Parents, 24 Feb. 2026
Normally a fun-loving guy, his confidence obviously waned at the end of the ’25 season, and the Cubs need the old Imanaga to return in ’26.
—Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
So, when Netflix and others launched streaming services, physical distribution eventually waned.
—Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2026
Those criticisms waned over time, as Jackson’s work helped better the lives of Americans across the country.
—The Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 Feb. 2026
Devers spent the offseason working on his defense and has been one of many infielders in camp working with Ron Washington, whose passion for teaching infield defense hasn’t waned after undergoing a quadruple bypass heart surgery last year.
—Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2026
Jackson’s activism has not waned in the aftermath of the Parkinson’s diagnosis.
—Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 17 Feb. 2026
Jackson’s prominence waned in the 2000s, in part because there were now so many Black leaders in politics, business and entertainment that the idea of one Black leader who spoke for the entire community seemed passe.
—Paul Grein, Billboard, 17 Feb. 2026
But interest in that format waned as defense and effort became increasingly sparse, and the game hit rock bottom in 2024 when the East beat the West, 211-186.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 16 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waned
Verb
-
In its 2025 report, Lazard, a financial advisory firm, estimated that the cost to build, operate, fuel and maintain a plant has decreased by 55% for wind and 84% for solar since 2009.—
Suhail Bhat,
USA Today,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Over the past few years, profits have decreased.—
The Denver Post,
Denver Post,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
While tensions over Greenland have subsided for now, the infighting has seriously undercut the ability of the world’s biggest security alliance to deter adversaries.—
Sam McNeil,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Her family ran to their roof, where the damage was very visible after the rain had subsided.—
Lauren Pozen,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
After 50, this step becomes especially important because the skin’s ability to hold onto moisture has diminished.—
Allison Palmer
Updated February 25,
Miami Herald,
25 Feb. 2026
-
But his joke during the phone call about also having to invite the women and the subsequent laughter from the men, which was captured on video and circulated widely on social media, set off a firestorm of criticism, with many expressing frustration that the joke diminished the women's achievement.—
Doha Madani,
NBC news,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Too many people, particularly those in my age group, have been felled by a cold that morphed into pneumonia, or a UTI that landed them in the hospital, or a simple stumble on a floor mat that resulted in surgery and months of physical therapy.—
Donna Vickroy,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Using drone surveys to map the forest canopy, the team tested how views might shift if certain trees were felled, inching toward a location that felt both deliberate and deferential to the land.—
Leonora Epstein,
Architectural Digest,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Hawks closed on a decisive 24-2 burst as Brooklyn’s efficient offense through three quarters vanished.—
C.J. Holmes,
New York Daily News,
22 Feb. 2026
-
People know them — the pioneering flier and the Teamsters union president — because both of them vanished dramatically.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Those disorders continue to overwhelm providers years after other pandemic-era mental health crises have ebbed.—
Sonja Sharp,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Still, those earnings gains mean the broad market’s valuation has ebbed since October.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waned.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waned. Accessed 2 Mar. 2026.
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