RECEDE Synonyms: 117 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'recede' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of recede are back , retract , and retreat . While all these words mean "to move backward," recede implies a gradual withdrawing from a forward or high fixed point in time or space. // the flood waters gradually receded

Q: In what contexts can 'back' take the place of 'recede'?

The meanings of back and recede largely overlap; however, back is used with up, down, out , or off to refer to any retrograde motion. // backed off on the throttle

Q: When could 'retract' be used to replace 'recede'?

In some situations, the words retract and recede are roughly equivalent. However, retract implies drawing back from an extended position. // a cat retracting its claws

Q: When would 'retreat' be a good substitute for 'recede'?

While the synonyms retreat and recede are close in meaning, retreat implies withdrawal from a point or position reached. // retreating soldiers

recede

verb

ri-ˈsēd

Definition of recede

as in to subside

to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually the sound of sirens receded as the fire engines roared off into the distance

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to withdraw

to move back or away (as from something difficult, dangerous, or disagreeable) after the rain stops, the floodwaters should gradually recede

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How does the verb recede contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of recede are back, retract, and retreat. While all these words mean "to move backward," recede implies a gradual withdrawing from a forward or high fixed point in time or space.

the flood waters gradually receded

In what contexts can back take the place of recede?

The meanings of back and recede largely overlap; however, back is used with up, down, out, or off to refer to any retrograde motion.

backed off on the throttle

When could retract be used to replace recede?

In some situations, the words retract and recede are roughly equivalent. However, retract implies drawing back from an extended position.

a cat retracting its claws

When would retreat be a good substitute for recede?

While the synonyms retreat and recede are close in meaning, retreat implies withdrawal from a point or position reached.

retreating soldiers

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 recede When Hurricane Sandy floodwater receded from New Jersey’s Port Newark shipping docks back in 2012, 16 Fisker Karmas, which are luxury hybrid plug-ins, burned in a fire there. — Suhauna Hussain, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026 President Penn and her husband Todd (Whitford) get to throw down now and then, as a husband who already feels emasculated has to sit and watch his wife recede into bitter militance. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 15 Oct. 2026 Near Fort Walton Beach, officials had to wait until floodwaters began to recede late Friday night before beginning cleanup operations. — Matthew Cappucci, Washington Post, 10 Oct. 2026 Coastal areas monitored Panamanian authorities were also monitoring unusual conditions along parts of the Pacific coast following reports that the sea had receded several meters in some coastal areas. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for recede

Recent Examples of Synonyms for recede

Verb

Winds were expected to subside across much of Northern California on Friday, but gusty conditions were forecast to continue in southern portions of PG&E’s service territory into Saturday morning.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026
But within a couple years, as the pandemic eased and community-police tension subsided, Bolingbrook Police Chief Mike Rompa started using his village purchasing card – known as a p-card – in a different way than others with the same cards.

— Irika Sargent, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of subside

Verb

On Monday, Chinese manufacturer Kepuni Holdings withdrew plans for a Nasdaq listing that had been expected to raise $15 million.

— Morgan Chittum, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
In these situations, withdrawing into a literal or symbolic dark room—avoiding sources of stress and going to a safe place—can be adaptive in the short term.

— Maia Szalavitz, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of withdraw

Verb

Meanwhile, conservative activists spread rumors last week that Talarico was struggling with his mental health and had secretly retreated to an Ohio hospital.

— Lauren Green, The Washington Examiner, 15 Oct. 2026
While Chelsea tend to retreat after taking the lead, their opponents also become more aggressive in response, committing extra bodies forward and helping to create more open, end-to-end encounters.

— Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of retreat

Verb

The definitive study of feedback, Avraham Kluger and Angelo DeNisi’s meta-analysis of 23,663 observations, found that over a third of feedback interventions decreased performance.

— Zaharia-Gabriel Sidere, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
These include gravitational forces, commonly known as G-forces, that increase or decrease the pressure riders feel on their bodies during rapid acceleration and deceleration.

— Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of decrease

Verb

Nasser Barghouti, who is slightly leading Khan in large-dollar donations to American Priorities, simply stated that he is retired and residing in Dallas.

— Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 14 Oct. 2026
Speaking of bouncing back, the Saints have been looking for stability after legendary coach Jennie Kull retired following the 2022 season.

— Paul Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of retire

Verb

Enamel is created while teeth are still developing under the gums, and the cells that produce it, known as ameloblasts, break down and vanish once a tooth erupts.

— Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Stocks of Wi-Fi routers, insulin pumps, pacemakers, and credit-card readers, along with cars and dishwashers, would dwindle and perhaps vanish.

— Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of vanish

Verb

But the opening period didn’t end without a scary moment, as Antetokounmpo fell hard on his back side after being fouled on a dunk attempt late in the first quarter.

— Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 15 Oct. 2026
Shares of Oracle fell about 9% amid a broader downturn for stocks of top AI stakeholders.

— Dade Hayes, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of fall

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

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Synonyms of recede

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