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
Growth has been a highlight, with revenues increasing at an average annual rate of nearly 184% over the past three years, significantly exceeding the S&P 500; however, more recent growth has tapered to low single digits.
—
Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Plant the tallest items at the back of the bed, tapering down to the shortest ones at the front of the planting area closest to the walk.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2025
This two-piece includes a ribbed knit cropped top and tapered knit pants.
—Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 16 Aug. 2025
But the key to seeing results here is consistent use, Dr. Rahman says, at the cadence prescribed by your doctor (which is typically nightly to start and then tapers down to a couple times a week).
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for taper
Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Plant the tallest items at the back of the bed, tapering down to the shortest ones at the front of the planting area closest to the walk.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2025
This two-piece includes a ribbed knit cropped top and tapered knit pants.
—Melony Forcier, Travel + Leisure, 16 Aug. 2025
But the key to seeing results here is consistent use, Dr. Rahman says, at the cadence prescribed by your doctor (which is typically nightly to start and then tapers down to a couple times a week).
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for taper
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taper
Verb
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They’re formulated with hydrating ingredients designed to decrease puffiness and help with dark circles.—
Isabel Garcia,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
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Darrow says the orchard’s acreage has decreased by half, mirroring the state’s overall decline since 2000.—
Mark Dent,
HubSpot,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The Royals are waiting for his back spasms to subside before getting him back into game action.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
9 Sep. 2025
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By 2008, Americans were withdrawing, and combat deaths were subsiding to their lowest level since the start of the occupation.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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That transition will bring with it some advantages (the conflict of being a part of the Comcast empire is diminished) but also challenges.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Sep. 2025
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Many observers feel that the family’s power in Thailand is diminished, and its long dominant political machine could finally be out of steam.—
Helen Regan,
CNN Money,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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This was a week dedicated to the passage of several bills that would ease regulations on prominent appliances.—
Jeremy Lott,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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However, some pressures have eased compared with a year ago.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In recent years, the gaming industry has been defined by mass layoffs, shrinking budgets and studios scrambling to replicate blockbuster success with Hollywood-sized spending.—
Keller Gordon,
NPR,
8 Sep. 2025
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With record numbers of Chinese retiring, the country faces mounting strain on its pension system and social safety nets, alongside a shrinking workforce to support them.—
Micah McCartney,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Ross, one of the Democrats to decline AIPAC money, is a relative centrist, according to a GovTrack scorecard, while Foushee and McGarvey, Kentucky’s only House Democrat, are in the middle of the pack ideologically.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
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That has declined over the years because of budget constraints.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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National Weather Service meteorologists consider forecasting waterspouts during the late summer and fall whenever large, cool air masses overspread the waters of the Great Lakes.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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The Department of Buildings told CBS News New York and News 12 Long Island that a 10-by-10-inch section of the ceiling collapsed due to possible water damage, and pieces of the building fell on customers dining inside.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Taper.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taper. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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