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ebb

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verb

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word ebb distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of ebb are abate, subside, and wane. While all these words mean "to die down in force or intensity," ebb suggests the receding of something (such as the tide) that commonly comes and goes.

the ebbing of daylight

When could abate be used to replace ebb?

While the synonyms abate and ebb are close in meaning, abate stresses the idea of progressive diminishing.

the storm abated

When can subside be used instead of ebb?

In some situations, the words subside and ebb are roughly equivalent. However, subside implies the ceasing of turbulence or agitation.

the protests subsided after a few days

When might wane be a better fit than ebb?

The words wane and ebb can be used in similar contexts, but wane suggests the fading or weakening of something good or impressive.

waning enthusiasm

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 ebb
Noun
Wind power ebbs and surges with the weather. Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 13 Aug. 2025 Emails from the Senate Republican minority arrive daily in the mailboxes of the reporters covering the state Capitol, a new strategy for a caucus at its lowest ebb in nearly 40 years. Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 7 May 2025
Verb
In ‘04, three seasons after the last of five national championships, Miami’s glory-days era was ebbing. Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2025 Moscow’s sovereign wealth fund financial reserves could ebb, and its revenues dip. Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ebb
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ebb
Noun
  • Presbyopia is the gradual deterioration of your eyes' ability to focus on close objects.
    Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
  • Three others who died after release due to health deterioration caused by prison conditions.
    Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Officials chose Dillow for closure because the building’s condition was rapidly deteriorating due to a water leak.
    Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Farley, a former New York City health commissioner who teaches at Tulane University, acknowledged that many factors contribute to falls, including the physical impairments and deteriorating eyesight associated with advancing age; alcohol abuse; and tripping hazards in people’s homes.
    Paula Span, Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Steam decreased 33 percent and gas consumption decreased 12 percent—both due to more consistent production flows.
    Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Austin, Denver have seen rents decrease Such arguments aren’t just economics textbook ideas, say Horowitz and other observers.
    Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The rise in premium leisure travel post-pandemic has replaced some of the decline in corporate travel.
    Zach Wichter, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
  • Researchers have found that the Mediterranean and DASH diets protect against cognitive decline.
    Patty Weasler, Verywell Health, 24 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Last year, Decker’s ex-wife, Whitney Decker, reportedly filed a petition to modify the family’s parenting plan, citing his worsening mental health issues.
    Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 26 Sep. 2025
  • He’s been sedated for the most part since the crash, to prevent any additional physical exertion or agitation that could worsen his injuries.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • NurPhoto via Getty Images After waves of nostalgia subsided and Newcastle United’s raucous, special atmosphere calmed, FC Barcelona set about teaching a clinic.
    Harry De Cosemo, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
  • During the recent measles outbreak centered in Texas, the Pandemic Center’s data contradicted Kennedy’s assertions that the crisis was subsiding, Jennifer Nuzzo, the director of the Pandemic Center, told me.
    Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 17 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • On those three dates, variations in the moon's position relative to Earth's equator — particularly its declination — can influence tidal forces that subtly affect Earth's rotation rate.
    Jamie Carter, Space.com, 5 Aug. 2025
  • Where corporate criminal investigations resolve without filing any criminal charges (through a declination or deferred prosecution agreement), companies should expect victims to still voice their views loudly to the Justice Department and beyond.
    Lisa Zornberg, Forbes.com, 21 May 2025
Verb
  • Earlier reports dating back to 2021 show that crumbling structures resulted in multiple instances of animals being found with debris like concrete in their stomachs.
    Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 21 Sep. 2025
  • The twin bases of the American experiment in political pluralism—the fable about the United States as a land of immigrants and the reality of unchallenged global primacy—are simultaneously crumbling.
    Pankaj Mishra, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ebb.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ebb. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on ebb

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