as in to decrease
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually
you'll find the symptoms begin tapering gradually about 24 hours after you take the medicine
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Recent Examples of taper
The cut is tapered and layered toward the back–behind the ears where hair tends to have most density–while leaving slightly longer pieces in the front for easy movement and face-framing shape.
—
Amanda Le, InStyle, 12 Mar. 2026
The virus peaked sharply in January and remains elevated in early March, although the seasonal winter wave is now tapering.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 6 Mar. 2026
However, the bill tapers down the amount that can be pulled from the Taxpayer Relief Fund to 75% of the spending gap in fiscal year 2027 and back to 50% in fiscal year 2028.
—Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register, 5 Mar. 2026
Broce said the agency tapers services such as behavior aides for potentially self-sufficient teenagers with judicial involvement.
—CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for taper
Amanda Le, InStyle, 12 Mar. 2026
The virus peaked sharply in January and remains elevated in early March, although the seasonal winter wave is now tapering.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 6 Mar. 2026
However, the bill tapers down the amount that can be pulled from the Taxpayer Relief Fund to 75% of the spending gap in fiscal year 2027 and back to 50% in fiscal year 2028.
—Stephen Gruber-Miller, Des Moines Register, 5 Mar. 2026
Broce said the agency tapers services such as behavior aides for potentially self-sufficient teenagers with judicial involvement.
—CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for taper
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taper
Verb
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This risk decreases as the storm moves away.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Apr. 2026
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As the war in Iran rages on, both rising oil prices and consumers’ decreasing desire to jet-set in uncertain times hang like a dark cloud over the industry, threatening to upend air travel across the world.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Tony Buxton, a climate and energy attorney at a legal and lobbying firm in Maine, told the WSJ that opposition to AI data centers in the state is unlikely to subside.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
3 Apr. 2026
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Efstathopoulos expects the speech to further fuel the risk-off sentiment as investors wait for uncertainty to subside.—
Anniek Bao,Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Together, the potential departures of two of Kansas City’s most experienced lawmakers — one on his own terms, one forced — could play a role in shaping the city’s future and diminish its ability to secure local priorities at the federal level.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
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Some of the gags are inspired, some are exasperating, none of them are presented in a way that suggests the filmmakers know the difference, and all of them are shoved down your throat until they’re diminished enough to swallow.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Taubel believes some of the supply problems have eased as early cultivator licensees' initial plants have fully grown and are cultivated.—
Caroline Cummings,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
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Reopening the Strait for food and fertilizer shipments would send an immediate signal to markets, ease pressure on vulnerable populations, and remind all parties that even now, a narrow channel for reason exists.—
Comfort Ero,
Time,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Telescopes and microscopes were everywhere by then, shrinking and stretching the Earth and sky and, in the process, expanding archaeological time from centuries to eons.—
Kathryn Hughes,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
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If the overall workforce continues to shrink, even fewer new jobs will be needed to incorporate workers entering the labor force, such as recent college graduates or parents who put their careers on hold for a few years.—
Rob Wile,
NBC news,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Both declined interview requests.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
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The Backstreet Boys member attempted to use the video to press battery charges against Gallagher, but prosecutors declined to do so after seeing the video supported Gallagher's version of events, per the outlet.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That’s led to a generation of kids being treated as Big Tech guinea pigs and falling student achievement scores.—
Abby McCloskey,
Boston Herald,
5 Apr. 2026
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The follow-up Saturday just fell short of also being special.—
Colleen Kane,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Taper.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taper. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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