as in declining
Related Words
Relevance
as in fading
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in decreasing
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually
in the course of the evening the storm steadily waned
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 waning
Michael D'estries, Travel + Leisure, 16 Jan. 2026
Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 21 Aug. 2025
Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026
The Avs finally broke through in the waning minutes of the period, taking advantage of a power play with a goal by Landeskog with just over a minute left.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 10 Apr. 2026
In the waning days of Idaho’s legislative session, the Legislature approved hundreds of thousands of dollars of cuts to a fund that included money for graduate medical education.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 10 Apr. 2026
The impact of higher import costs is now waning, Bernard Yaros.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026
The Knicks were closing in on a Game 4 win — and a 3-1 advantage in their eventual six-game series victory — when Tatum crumpled to the court and grabbed his right ankle in the waning minutes of that May 12 playoff game.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026
What actually passed in the waning hours of the legislative session last week was much more modest.
—David Wickert, AJC.com, 7 Apr. 2026
The days of coaches spending a large percentage of their time recruiting teenagers out of high school are waning.
—Brendan Marks, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
But the current, waning season hits with a back-to-Earth thud as the Cats are eliminated from playoff contention in the brutally tough NHL East.
—Greg Cote
april 6, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Even better, the peak of this shower, which should produce on average between 8 to 10 meteors per hour, will arrive under dark skies thanks to a meager waning crescent moon.
—Michael D'estries, Travel + Leisure, 16 Jan. 2026
Noun
But Wells points out that in addition to the natural waning of the virus, other public health measures, such as vaccination and isolation, are instrumental in stopping its spread.
—Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 21 Aug. 2025
Verb
Election watchers viewed the outcomes as a sign GOP support might be waning.
—Jeffrey Schweers, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026
The Avs finally broke through in the waning minutes of the period, taking advantage of a power play with a goal by Landeskog with just over a minute left.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 10 Apr. 2026
In the waning days of Idaho’s legislative session, the Legislature approved hundreds of thousands of dollars of cuts to a fund that included money for graduate medical education.
—Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 10 Apr. 2026
The impact of higher import costs is now waning, Bernard Yaros.
—Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 9 Apr. 2026
The Knicks were closing in on a Game 4 win — and a 3-1 advantage in their eventual six-game series victory — when Tatum crumpled to the court and grabbed his right ankle in the waning minutes of that May 12 playoff game.
—Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2026
What actually passed in the waning hours of the legislative session last week was much more modest.
—David Wickert, AJC.com, 7 Apr. 2026
The days of coaches spending a large percentage of their time recruiting teenagers out of high school are waning.
—Brendan Marks, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
But the current, waning season hits with a back-to-Earth thud as the Cats are eliminated from playoff contention in the brutally tough NHL East.
—Greg Cote
april 6, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waning
Adjective
-
While pruning, remove any winter damage, along with dead and declining growths, to allow new shoots to reform the plant.—
Tom MacCubbin,
orlandosentinel.com,
6 Mar. 2021
-
In order to reopen, counties must demonstrate declining prevalence of COVID-19, testing ability of 30 tests per 10,000 residents per week, contact tracing and isolation facilities.—
Fox News,
Fox News,
15 May 2020
Noun
-
To ward off further damage, one major key is to prevent color fading.—
Danielle Sinay,
Glamour,
23 Mar. 2026
-
However, the bedding itself has held up well without any fraying threads or color fading.—
Nashia Baker,
Architectural Digest,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
There are three Elvi (Tyler Hanes, Colton Sims and Charles Adler Bischoff at the Marriott, in decreasing order of age).—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Despite being a required vaccine in all states to attend public school, rates have been steadily decreasing over the last decade, CDC data shows.—
Arthur Jones II,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Garden centers aren't giving a refund for a dying or dead plant but rather a discount on a new purchase.—
Lauren David,
Southern Living,
17 Dec. 2025
Noun
-
April in Central Florida is commonly one of the drier months of the year before summer rains, showing itself instead with brown lawns, wilting bushes, burning forests and smoky skies.—
Martin E. Comas,
The Orlando Sentinel,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Signs of overwatering include drooping, wilting, or yellowing leaves.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Murray can breathe a sigh of relief that Nickeil Alexander-Walker left Minnesota for greener pastures in free agency last summer, diminishing the Wolves’ on-ball defensive firepower.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Opposition parties warn that basing constituencies on population could shift political power toward faster-growing northern states, while diminishing the parliamentary representation, seat share and overall influence of southern regions.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The state graded the campus an F for three consecutive years, meaning two more failing grades could trigger an intervention.—
Noah Alcala Bach,
San Antonio Express-News,
1 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But there were no signs that the conflict was subsiding.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Mar. 2026
-
But, by the end of May, the issue was not subsiding.—
Evan Grant,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waning.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waning. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
