taper

verb

ˈtā-pər How to pronounce taper (audio)
Definition of tapernext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 taper On Friday, instead of the persistent put-buying that had marked options flows in the XLU ETF for the past month, trading was dominated by someone who sold $1 million of puts betting the group's selloff will taper or turn around. — Oliver Renick, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026 But should the trade deficit close and exports outnumber imports, foreign investment would also taper, Hassan suggested. — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 7 Oct. 2026 Rain showers will continue off and on Monday, with the rain beginning to taper Monday night. — Sarah Wroblewski, CBS News, 27 Sep. 2026 The bed is flared out inside the van, tapering to a 39-in (100-cm) width to fit inside the Happy Dreamer pod, so campers will be most comfortable sleeping with their feet in the pod, heads in the van. — New Atlas, 16 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for taper
Recent Examples of Synonyms for taper
  1. decrease
  2. subside
  3. diminish
  4. ease
  5. shrink
  6. decline
  7. fall
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
  • 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
  • Though apparently diminishing his own roster is part of the team's motivational playbook.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Granderson doesn’t believe that repeat celebrations diminish the significance of the ultimate prize, the World Series.
    — Don Riddell, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of diminish
Verb
  • Similarly strong winds are possible on Tuesday in North Carolina and the Mid-Atlantic and may ease only slightly by Wednesday.
    — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed to citizens last month to avoid foreign travel and buying gold, to ease the pressure on the local currency.
    — Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of ease
Verb
  • Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel phones also have built-in ways to send photo files without relying on a messaging app that may shrink them along the way.
    — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The domestic economy is otherwise moribund, hampered by bad debts and a shrinking labor force.
    — RUCHIR SHARMA, Foreign Affairs, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of shrink
Verb
  • The two executives declined to give the company’s wholesale volume.
    — Lisa Lockwood, Footwear News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • His office declined to comment when asked about Overton’s involvement in drafting the scientific justification document.
    — David Lim, semafor.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of decline
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

Phrases Containing taper

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taped
taper
tape recording
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Cite this Entry

“Taper.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/taper. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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