as in subsides
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually
in the course of the evening the storm steadily waned
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Recent Examples of wanes
Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 27 Jan. 2026
Justin Sullivan | Getty Images Procter & Gamble is selling diapers made with silk fibers in China as part of the company's strategy to entice shoppers to spend more, even as demand for some of its products wanes.
—Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 22 Jan. 2026
When monitoring wanes and enforcement fades, workers pay the price first in wages and safety, then in silenced voices and must choose between an empty stomach and their rights.
—Tharo Khun, Sourcing Journal, 8 Jan. 2026
Protection from flu vaccine wanes in the months after vaccination, so studies conducted later in the season might show different levels of effectiveness.
—Helen Branswell, STAT, 6 Jan. 2026
Because protection wanes, people need a new flu shot every season.
—Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 31 Dec. 2025
The offensive rebounds pile up, the defensive intensity wanes a bit and momentum can swing just like that.
—Jared Weiss, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2025
The most infectious diseases against which immunity wanes the fastest will be first.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
At this point, the sun’s polar magnetic field switches direction, and after that, its activity wanes back down to a minimum before starting the whole process over again.
—Sarah Scoles, Scientific American, 10 Dec. 2025
Verb
The movie follows Pastor Hélder, who, as his faith wanes, turns to witchcraft and sacrifice to reclaim it.
—Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 27 Jan. 2026
Justin Sullivan | Getty Images Procter & Gamble is selling diapers made with silk fibers in China as part of the company's strategy to entice shoppers to spend more, even as demand for some of its products wanes.
—Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 22 Jan. 2026
When monitoring wanes and enforcement fades, workers pay the price first in wages and safety, then in silenced voices and must choose between an empty stomach and their rights.
—Tharo Khun, Sourcing Journal, 8 Jan. 2026
Protection from flu vaccine wanes in the months after vaccination, so studies conducted later in the season might show different levels of effectiveness.
—Helen Branswell, STAT, 6 Jan. 2026
Because protection wanes, people need a new flu shot every season.
—Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 31 Dec. 2025
The offensive rebounds pile up, the defensive intensity wanes a bit and momentum can swing just like that.
—Jared Weiss, New York Times, 17 Dec. 2025
The most infectious diseases against which immunity wanes the fastest will be first.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
At this point, the sun’s polar magnetic field switches direction, and after that, its activity wanes back down to a minimum before starting the whole process over again.
—Sarah Scoles, Scientific American, 10 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wanes
Verb
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Those physicians worry the impacts will last long after the surge subsides.—
Caroline Cummings,
CBS News,
6 Feb. 2026
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As the mayhem subsides, a silhouette of a lone Charli remains.—
Cheyenne Roundtree,
Rolling Stone,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Skeptics will wonder about the timing of the new release, which the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced as public attention in politics ebbs and the holiday season hits its peak.—
Niall Stanage,
The Hill,
23 Dec. 2025
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Game predictions Fowler, thanks to his preternatural understanding of this franchise’s flows and ebbs, somehow stayed perfect after the Panthers’ shutout win last week.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Elevated heart rate and less endurance As hydration drops, blood volume decreases, forcing the heart to work harder to maintain cardiac output.—
Katharine Gammon,
Time,
10 Feb. 2026
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As the incivility and tribalism of our politics increase, the quality of our political discourse decreases accordingly.—
Bradley Gitz,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Over the years, the pair has assembled a real estate portfolio anchored by a compound in Calabasas, California, and complemented by everything from island retreats in Hawaii to suburban hideaways in Maryland.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
6 Feb. 2026
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The group holds yearly men’s retreats in cities such as Orlando, Tampa, and Atlanta.—
Kamal Morgan
February 5,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This, in my opinion, diminishes that.—
Rachel Handler,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
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Maybe, too, Giannis gets hurt again in March and his trade value diminishes a bit more.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Feb. 2026
Noun
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This week's declines leave the S&P 500 down almost 30 percent from their October 2025 peaks.—
Leonie Kidd,
CNBC,
8 Feb. 2026
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Countries around the world experiencing their own population declines are now watching closely to see what South Korea does next.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
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When Claire and Frank retreat to Inverness on holiday following the end of WWII, Frank spies the spectre of a Highlander staring up into Claire's window that abruptly vanishes.—
Amy Wilkinson,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Feb. 2026
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Remove the gap, and the premium vanishes.—
Joseph M. Singer,
Deadline,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
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By simultaneously hitting three or more targets, these agents promise not only deeper responses but potentially longer remissions in some of the hardest-to-treat cancers.—
William A. Haseltine,
Forbes.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wanes.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wanes. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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