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ebb

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verb

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word ebb distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of ebb are abate, subside, and wane. While all these words mean "to die down in force or intensity," ebb suggests the receding of something (such as the tide) that commonly comes and goes.

the ebbing of daylight

When could abate be used to replace ebb?

While the synonyms abate and ebb are close in meaning, abate stresses the idea of progressive diminishing.

the storm abated

When can subside be used instead of ebb?

In some situations, the words subside and ebb are roughly equivalent. However, subside implies the ceasing of turbulence or agitation.

the protests subsided after a few days

When might wane be a better fit than ebb?

The words wane and ebb can be used in similar contexts, but wane suggests the fading or weakening of something good or impressive.

waning enthusiasm

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 ebb
Noun
September 2024: Craig Conover gives an interview indicating that his feud with Kyle may be on its ebb. Bethy Squires, Vulture, 14 Mar. 2025 Fans gear up for Moyes’ return (Charlotte Wilson/Offside/Offside via Getty Images) Moyes walked into a club at a miserably low ebb. Patrick Boyland, The Athletic, 20 Feb. 2025
Verb
There was hope water rescues would ebb today in Kentucky and allow crews to reset and prepare for winter weather, Eric Gibson, director of the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management, said Tuesday. Hanna Park, Robert Shackelford and Mary Gilbert, CNN, 18 Feb. 2025 But as the pandemic ebbed, ExThera’s sales to hospitals peaked at a few million dollars and then began to decline. John Carreyrou, New York Times, 23 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ebb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ebb
Noun
  • Submersible visits over the years have shown an increase in its deterioration, with rust and microorganisms eating away at the ship's metal. Dives over more than a decade have shown the ship is falling apart.
    George Petras, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2025
  • That could mean that rate cuts are pushed off until much later this year or even delayed until next year if that deterioration takes time to materialize.
    Colby Smith, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Experts noted that the election took place in a deeply divided nation, where citizens were split on how best to confront surging crime and a deteriorating economy.
    Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2025
  • Israel-Turkey relations deteriorated in 2010 after Israeli naval commandos intercepted a humanitarian flotilla attempting to breach the blockade on the Gaza Strip.
    Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The number of Jesuits globally has steadily decreased since the 1960s, when there were more than 36,000.
    Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 27 Apr. 2025
  • There has been a decreasing number of swing districts, only a few dozen now.
    Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • This is a result of a profit-first capitalist system in crisis in the epoch of imperialism’s decline.
    Harrison Mantas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2025
  • Gold’s warning What’s more, the spike in gold prices this year has continued to signal a risk-off mentality among investors, as gold tends to rally during periods of decline in stocks.
    Pia Singh, CNBC, 19 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The administration’s threat of tariffs on pharmaceuticals risks political backlash, worsening drug shortages and future battles over who pays.
    Alexis Simendinger, The Hill, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Some evidence suggests that creatine may worsen mania symptoms in people with bipolar disorder.
    Jillian Kubala, Health, 21 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • But much of that has subsided now; the Steelers, after all, don’t have a second-round pick and trading up could be out of the question as a result.
    Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 24 Apr. 2025
  • While immediate inflation concerns have subsided, the current administration's aggressive tariff and immigration policies are creating new economic anxieties that could lead to future instability.
    Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 23 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The changing declination also defines the daily arc that the sun takes across the sky, thereby accounting for the length of daylight.
    Joe Rao, Space.com, 6 Feb. 2025
  • The sun's changing declination is what determines whether the sun's rays strike us at a low angle or more directly.
    Joe Rao, Space.com, 6 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • The pitching staff began to crumble beneath a lack of reliable depth.
    Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 18 Apr. 2025
  • Both gentlemen were trying to win their first Green Jacket. DeChambeau crumbled while McIlroy had a rollercoaster kind of day, prevailing to win The Masters and complete the career grand slam.
    Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ebb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ebb. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.

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