as in decreased
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually
at this time of the year, light begins to taper off a little earlier each day
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Recent Examples of tapered off
That improvement tapered off, however, over the course of the last two weeks.
—
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
But then construction tapered off, helping stabilize rent prices and occupancy rates.
—Lily O'Neill, San Antonio Express-News, 1 Apr. 2026
The analysis showed bacterial diversity recovered the fastest in the first two years after people took antibiotics; the rate of recovery tapered off after that point.
—Lori Youmshajekian, Scientific American, 11 Mar. 2026
After the initial surge following the Tuesday Instagram post upping the reward, the number of calls to the sheriff's department has tapered off, sources said.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026
The questions about the interceptions have tapered off with his high schoolers.
—Jeff Howe, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Things tapered off down the stretch.
—D. Orlando Ledbetter, AJC.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Lastly, Vanderbilt transfer JaQualon Roberts has an opportunity to make an immediate impact after his play-time with the Commodores tapered off in his sophomore season.
—Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2025
Most areas saw trace amounts of rainfall, less than a tenth of an inch, before the showers tapered off by midmorning.
—Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 2 Apr. 2026
But then construction tapered off, helping stabilize rent prices and occupancy rates.
—Lily O'Neill, San Antonio Express-News, 1 Apr. 2026
The analysis showed bacterial diversity recovered the fastest in the first two years after people took antibiotics; the rate of recovery tapered off after that point.
—Lori Youmshajekian, Scientific American, 11 Mar. 2026
After the initial surge following the Tuesday Instagram post upping the reward, the number of calls to the sheriff's department has tapered off, sources said.
—Aaron Katersky, ABC News, 26 Feb. 2026
The questions about the interceptions have tapered off with his high schoolers.
—Jeff Howe, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Things tapered off down the stretch.
—D. Orlando Ledbetter, AJC.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Lastly, Vanderbilt transfer JaQualon Roberts has an opportunity to make an immediate impact after his play-time with the Commodores tapered off in his sophomore season.
—Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 30 Oct. 2025
Most areas saw trace amounts of rainfall, less than a tenth of an inch, before the showers tapered off by midmorning.
—Hayleigh Evans, AZCentral.com, 22 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tapered off
Verb
-
That was in 2021, when league revenues decreased as a result of the pandemic.—
Dan Sheldon,
New York Times,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Shooting percentages rapidly decreased after the intermission, and each team scored just 11 points in the third quarter.—
Haley Sawyer,
Oc Register,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
More elderly people could find themselves at the mercy of an obscure government program meant to save them from harm and preserve their dignity when their ability to take care of themselves is diminished.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
-
But with the chances of a Fed rate cut later this year highly diminished now and, with the reality that a cut (if it is issued) is likely to be by just 25 basis points, these estimates are unlikely to change dramatically, either.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Almost immediately, all his physical woes subsided.—
Kate Hogan,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Johnson said Boulder County's restrictions will stay in place until the fire danger has consistently subsided.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Floorboards were milled from walnut trees felled at a construction site in North Carolina.—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
2 Apr. 2026
-
With a hollow interior trunk, Stumpy was among 158 trees felled in 2024 as part of a project aimed at shoring up a sea wall near the National Mall.—
Tim Stelloh,
NBC news,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Sooner or later, those fans and hands fell away, and the statues remained, growing less and less presentable.—
Patt Morrison,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Old differences fell away, and the two got along well.—
Alex Ross,
New Yorker,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tapered off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tapered%20off. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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