ebbs 1 of 2

noun

plural of ebb
as in declines
a change to a lower state or level a surprising ebb in the quality of workmanship in goods coming from that country

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

ebbs

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of ebb
1
as in deteriorates
to become worse or of less value the fortunes of the town slowly ebbed as factory after textile factory closed

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in subsides
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually the howling winds ebbed as the hurricane moved into the interior

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of ebbs
Noun
Years of going through the ebbs and flows of playoff games had the Knicks ready. — Zach Harper, New York Times, 16 June 2026 Construction ebbs and flows with cyclical interest rates. — Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 4 June 2026 Throughout its history the company has gone through the ebbs and flows of the jewelry sector, impacted to various extents by wars, macroeconomic volatility and geopolitical disruption. — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 27 May 2026 Armas pointed to the ebbs and flows of development throughout the year. — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 20 May 2026 Durglo is no stranger to the ebbs and flows of federal dollars and has always pieced together funding from multiple sources, including state government, nonprofits, and federal agencies, to carry out climate work. — Ellis Juhlin, NPR, 18 May 2026 Zayn is the perfect example of anyone dealing with the ebbs and flows of a business. — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 18 May 2026 For all the ebbs and flows of her career, Larsson has remained uncompromising in her integrity. — Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 11 May 2026 The ebbs and flows will send you through it. — Essence, 11 May 2026
Verb
The district’s cash on hand naturally ebbs and flows depending on when revenue arrives, but repeated Cook County property tax delays last year have deepened the problem. — Kate Perez, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026 Participation ebbs and flows with the economy, dropping to 35 million in 2019. — Bart Jansen, USA Today, 19 June 2026 Life ebbs and flows in seasons. — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 17 June 2026 Student housing provides an obvious entry point, but occupancy ebbs and flows based on the academic calendar. — Matt Baker, New York Times, 12 May 2026 The good news is over 162 games production inevitably ebbs and flows, so before long the Red Sox will make some adjustments and the results should improve. — Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 19 Apr. 2026 Typically, that ebbs over the course of the season, as players play together more often. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 24 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ebbs
  1. declines
  2. deteriorates
  3. subsides
  4. deteriorations
  5. descends
  6. decreases
  7. falls
  8. crumbles
Noun
  • Things already had been tough internally amid the engagement challenges hurting Netflix’s stock as high-profile series had not performed to expectations and most returning shows have seen viewership declines season-to-season over the past year.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Sarandos told investors in July that such declines are typical and that second season falloff is slightly improved this year.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of declines
Verb
  • As her brother Aldwin’s mental health deteriorates, Lil considers risking her future to travel to him.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Keep the effort easy enough that your movement quality improves rather than deteriorates.
    — Dana Santas, CNN Money, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of deteriorates
Verb
  • Chadchart said despite the heavy rain, flooding should recede once the rain subsides, as city officials are working to drain floodwaters as quickly as possible.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Ideally, those refugees would remain in human care for years or even decades until the mussel invasion subsides.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of subsides
Noun
  • Similar deteriorations took place in Tuscany and in Naples.
    — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 Mar. 2026
Definition of deteriorations
Verb
  • The visuals are too murky even to provide a nasty thrill when a pod of orcas descends on Jay’s gargantuan host.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The sprawling network, which could date as far back as the 8th century BCE, descends roughly 280 feet, housing everything from stables and kitchens to rock-cut churches and escape tunnels.
    — Maya Chawla, Architectural Digest, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of descends
Verb
  • In addition, insulin sensitivity — or how effectively the body responds to the hormone insulin — also generally decreases at night.
    — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The drink—also known simply as beet juice—decreases inflammation and is rich in nitrates, which help relax blood vessels and allow blood to flow more freely.
    — Christina Manian, HEALTH, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of decreases
Noun
  • In senior living communities across multiple states, including Arizona and Pennsylvania, Paul has helped reduce falls by up to 72%.
    — Lauryn Higgins, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
  • On Thursday, that included two slip-and-falls that resulted in a 64-yard gain to set up a touchdown and a 21-yard gain on third-and-21 to move the chains and set up another Buccaneers touchdown.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of falls
Verb
  • When new, concrete possesses a thin, temporarily protective layer that, if not maintained, will wear away, exposing the interior, which gradually crumbles.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The Packers’ identity is that of a team that can’t shut the door, one that crumbles when momentum turns in a hostile away environment.
    — Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of crumbles

Browse Nearby Words

ebbing
ebbs
ebony
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Cite this Entry

“Ebbs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ebbs. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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