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
According to CNEVPost, despite a strong initial reception, sales have tapered, with November deliveries falling to 4,870 units—one of the lowest monthly figures this year.
—
Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 29 Dec. 2025
Cut with a curved outer seam that balloons slightly through the thigh before tapering at the ankle, the shape is all about creating volume.
—Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 29 Dec. 2025
The pants have an elastic waistband and gently taper at the ankles, creating a relaxed, barrel-style silhouette.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 22 Dec. 2025
The winner earns 25 points, second place gets 18, and the points taper down to one for tenth.
—Okla Jones, Essence, 16 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for taper
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taper
Verb
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Newsom claims homelessness decline Newsom during his final State of the State address Thursday claimed the state’s homeless population decreased last year.—
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Meanwhile, the number of job openings have decreased nearly 10% on the year to 729,000 in the September to November period from a year ago, the ONS found.—
Verb
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Mariners traversing the bar are urged to exercise extreme caution or stay in port until the threat subsides.—
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These findings have prompted the development of interventions designed to create time and space between an individual’s suicidal impulse and access to firearms, allowing acute urges to subside.—
Verb
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Still seething after a sloppy 19-16 loss to the Detroit Lions, Johnson wasn’t hiding his dissatisfaction with a defeat that seemed to diminish his team’s momentum.—
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Kaufman moved there 30 years ago, and since that time the island’s community has diminished by degrees, its youth lured away by better employment prospects in Provo and overseas.—
Verb
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The Panthers will look to establish their run game to ease pressure on Bryce Young.—
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The review also supports earlier findings that gum chewing can ease stress, but only in certain situations.—
Verb
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Headcount shrank for an 11th straight month, albeit at a slower pace, amid modest production growth.—
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The number of Republicans running for governor in Colorado has shrunk by two.—
Verb
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When asked about its plans, McDonald's declined to comment to Fox News Digital.—
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Due to ongoing litigation, the airline declined to comment further.—
Verb
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Two things happened on that blustery back-to-school morning that fell exactly a month after my eleventh birthday.—
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Midway through the third quarter, true freshman linebacker Mason Posa, buried on the depth chart just weeks ago, ripped the ball loose at Washington’s 7-yard line and fell on it himself.—
Cite this Entry
“Taper.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taper. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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