as in decreasing
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 tapering off
After reaching peak market saturation, interest is tapering off.
—
Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2026
Precipitation is expected to start Monday night with the heaviest precipitation Tuesday before tapering off by Wednesday.
—Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 7 Feb. 2026
After dismissing 1,000 Reality Labs employees, Meta sees losses tapering off.
—Peter Cohan, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Snow from this weekend's storm is tapering off, but Arctic air is set to rush in and send temperatures plunging even further across much of the country over the next couple of days.
—Helen Graham, NBC news, 26 Jan. 2026
Snow fell throughout Sunday and was tapering off Monday.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2026
Snow showers will be possible Sunday morning, eventually tapering off by the early afternoon.
—Lauren Bostwick, CBS News, 25 Jan. 2026
The soggy weather is expected to continue through Tuesday with the heaviest downfalls tapering off by midday Monday, according to the National Weather Service.
—Deborah Netburn, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2026
For eastern Cuba, heavy rains will continue this morning, tapering off this afternoon.
—Miami Herald Hurricane Bot, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 8 Feb. 2026
Precipitation is expected to start Monday night with the heaviest precipitation Tuesday before tapering off by Wednesday.
—Chaewon Chung, Sacbee.com, 7 Feb. 2026
After dismissing 1,000 Reality Labs employees, Meta sees losses tapering off.
—Peter Cohan, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Snow from this weekend's storm is tapering off, but Arctic air is set to rush in and send temperatures plunging even further across much of the country over the next couple of days.
—Helen Graham, NBC news, 26 Jan. 2026
Snow fell throughout Sunday and was tapering off Monday.
—Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2026
Snow showers will be possible Sunday morning, eventually tapering off by the early afternoon.
—Lauren Bostwick, CBS News, 25 Jan. 2026
The soggy weather is expected to continue through Tuesday with the heaviest downfalls tapering off by midday Monday, according to the National Weather Service.
—Deborah Netburn, Los Angeles Times, 4 Jan. 2026
For eastern Cuba, heavy rains will continue this morning, tapering off this afternoon.
—Miami Herald Hurricane Bot, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tapering off
Verb
-
The biggest shift in the financial model of newspapers that has occurred in the transition from print to digital is a decreasing reliance on advertising and an increasing reliance on direct payments from subscribers.—
Hanna Rosin,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The formulation hits all the targets my tired eyes crave—brightening dark circles, decreasing puffiness, and reducing the look of fine lines.—
Cathy Nelson,
InStyle,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Her authority has been challenged in several high-profile cases, diminishing hopes in both progressive and populist MAGA circles for tough antitrust enforcement.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
9 Feb. 2026
-
The tiredness of the players has a diminishing effect on the level of spectacle and the games and goals become unmemorable.—
James Horncastle,
New York Times,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Though snowy conditions are subsiding, the impacts of the storm will linger in the coming days—especially as many regions that saw snowfall are beginning the week with single-digit temperatures.—
Simmone Shah,
Time,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Sausalito crews set up a 4-inch pump near Gate 5 Road in the city’s northernmost neighborhood, where the grounds have been subsiding.—
Steven Rosenfeld,
Mercury News,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Sunrays strobed down through the water, illuminating layer upon layer of marine life, falling away to the ocean floor some 15 feet below.—
Flora Stubbs,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Away from McDavid and Draisaitl, a group is flourishing, but veterans who were counted on are falling away and losing playing time.—
Allan Mitchell,
New York Times,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
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According to the Iowa Cancer Registry, lung cancer incidence rates are declining slower in Iowa than in other states.—
Cami Koons,
Iowa Capital Dispatch,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Measles-vaccination rates have been steadily declining for several years; since last January, the country has logged its two largest measles epidemics in more than three decades.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Two months later, the appointment of another nominee, Keith Fountain, failed in a 5-4 decision of the Board of Directors, falling one short of the six votes necessary to confirm him.—
Joseph Flaherty,
Arkansas Online,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tapering off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tapering%20off. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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