as in subsides
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually
in the course of the evening the storm steadily waned
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of wanes
Ethan M. Stone, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025
Although the damage to their credit scores may be significant, the effect typically wanes over time and disappears once the collection drops off their credit reports in seven years.
—Liz Weston, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2025
In a city where youth is currency, the pressure to look flawless never wanes.
—Elycia Rubin, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2025
Interest wanes during the summer, except for mowing, watering and worrying about this or that patch of dead grass.
—Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp, IndyStar, 27 Sep. 2025
But for that swing to be such a huge whiff, and then to be on stage playing your own protagonist while the excitement of the audience audibly wanes around you for two laborious hours … That’s rough, buddy.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
But each season, the eternal optimism quickly wanes when one of the team’s top players gets injured.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 25 Sep. 2025
Pfizer is in the process of rebuilding in the aftermath of the pandemic, as demand wanes for its vaccine and pill for Covid and some of the company’s key drugs near the end of their patent life.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 22 Sep. 2025
It’a a line of sight phenomenon — Earth’s view of the planet waxes and wanes as Saturn orbits the sun every 29 years.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
Yet, recent studies, such as The State of Women in Engineering Leadership in 2025, reveal that the success of these methods wanes as these women advance in their careers.
—Ethan M. Stone, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025
Although the damage to their credit scores may be significant, the effect typically wanes over time and disappears once the collection drops off their credit reports in seven years.
—Liz Weston, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2025
In a city where youth is currency, the pressure to look flawless never wanes.
—Elycia Rubin, HollywoodReporter, 29 Sep. 2025
Interest wanes during the summer, except for mowing, watering and worrying about this or that patch of dead grass.
—Jo Ellen Meyers Sharp, IndyStar, 27 Sep. 2025
But for that swing to be such a huge whiff, and then to be on stage playing your own protagonist while the excitement of the audience audibly wanes around you for two laborious hours … That’s rough, buddy.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
But each season, the eternal optimism quickly wanes when one of the team’s top players gets injured.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 25 Sep. 2025
Pfizer is in the process of rebuilding in the aftermath of the pandemic, as demand wanes for its vaccine and pill for Covid and some of the company’s key drugs near the end of their patent life.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 22 Sep. 2025
It’a a line of sight phenomenon — Earth’s view of the planet waxes and wanes as Saturn orbits the sun every 29 years.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wanes
Verb
-
Mariners traversing the bar are urged to exercise extreme caution or stay in port until the threat subsides.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Their base case assumes that recovery will resume once uncertainty subsides.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
13 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Game predictions Fowler, thanks to his preternatural understanding of this franchise’s flows and ebbs, somehow stayed perfect after the Panthers’ shutout win last week.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Sep. 2025
-
After a layoff, employee trust ebbs, burnout can increase and quiet quitting can become an attractive option for many workers.—
Mark C. Perna,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Nobody was questioning it when Salah produced arguably his best season for the club to spearhead Liverpool’s title charge, but when the output decreases and opponents see that flank as a weakness, perceptions change.—
The Athletic's Liverpool staff,
New York Times,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Towing capacity decreases 1,000 pounds to, 4,000 pounds.—
Mark Phelan,
Freep.com,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Most co-curricular activities, like arts and leadership programs, would be shared, but spiritual programming and retreats would remain separate.—
Jennah Pendleton,
Sacbee.com,
12 Nov. 2025
-
One of Middle Tennessee's most storied creative retreats — and the birthplace of Taylor Swift's debut album — is officially up for sale.—
Bryan West,
Nashville Tennessean,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
4 Nov. 2025
-
When two parties are aware of a major issue that diminishes an asset and do not inform the third party of that asset, that’s strong grounds for a lawsuit.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Although the study shows that the occurrence of giant planets declines as stars age, the few planets that remain in close orbits around red giants offer valuable insights.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Nov. 2025
-
The largest declines were in Massachusetts, down 26, Washington state, down 18, and North Carolina, down 17.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The film follows Jo Beckett, a devoted schoolteacher whose world unravels when her young son vanishes—only to return profoundly changed.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Maddy soon vanishes, then reappears a decade later, insisting the show’s world is, in fact, reality.—
Dennis Perkins,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
By simultaneously hitting three or more targets, these agents promise not only deeper responses but potentially longer remissions in some of the hardest-to-treat cancers.—
William A. Haseltine,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wanes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wanes. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share