Synonym Chooser

How is the word subside distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of subside are abate, ebb, and wane. While all these words mean "to die down in force or intensity," subside implies the ceasing of turbulence or agitation.

the protests subsided after a few days

When can abate be used instead of subside?

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

the storm abated

When is ebb a more appropriate choice than subside?

The words ebb and subside are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, ebb suggests the receding of something (such as the tide) that commonly comes and goes.

the ebbing of daylight

When is it sensible to use wane instead of subside?

Although the words wane and subside have much in common, wane suggests the fading or weakening of something good or impressive.

waning enthusiasm

Examples 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 subside As colder air filters in by late Wednesday into Thursday, high water and ice action should subside. Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2024 Santa Ana winds blowing from the northeast are expected to gust between 10 to 25 mph, but are forecast to subside later in the day. Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 11 Dec. 2024 Monthly inflation subsided in November after showing little improvement in recent months. Lucia Mutikani, USA TODAY, 21 Dec. 2024 With the help of psychologists, the symptoms, luckily, subsided. Katya Soldak, Forbes, 20 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for subside 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for subside
Verb
  • That’s a trend that’s stayed steady throughout the season to the point that any upward regression expected by the model has diminished.
    Dom Luszczyszyn, The Athletic, 9 Jan. 2025
  • Maryland faltered for the first time, a loss that dims but shouldn’t diminish its impressive start as its ceiling comes clearer into focus.
    Taylor Lyons, Baltimore Sun, 9 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • By Friday, winds decrease as chances for a second round of snow increase.
    Todd Karpovich, Baltimore Sun, 8 Jan. 2025
  • Depression risk further decreased for every additional 1,000 steps, with the lowest risk at 7,000 to 10,000 daily steps.
    Sarah Garone, Health, 8 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Trees or limbs that fall onto a shoulder, sidewalk or public right-of-way should be reported by calling 311 or using the CLT+ mobile app.
    Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 10 Jan. 2025
  • On paper, the movie is a very American epic—the rise and fall of a master builder, told as extravagantly as possible on 70-millimeter VistaVision, a largely obsolete film format that was predominantly used in the 1950s and ’60s.
    David Sims, The Atlantic, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • While the recent seven-game stretch has been an improvement, the flaws on this team haven’t vanished.
    Matthew Fairburn, The Athletic, 7 Jan. 2025
  • By contrast, this rising international elite is creating something very different: a society in which superstition defeats reason and logic, transparency vanishes, and the nefarious actions of political leaders are obscured behind a cloud of nonsense and distraction.
    Anne Applebaum, The Atlantic, 7 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • Cavuto’s exit also means the number of original Fox News stars continues to shrink.
    Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Jan. 2025
  • Across Africa, notably in Sudan, Russia’s shadow shrinks apace with the loss of Syria’s ports to relay supplies southward.
    Melik Kaylan, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • The Trump administration can also ease merger and consolidation rules, which the Biden-era Federal Trade Commission tightened, to help streamline dealmaking and bolster the industry’s financial resiliency.
    Dan Eberhart, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
  • Robust hiring could give the Fed reason to delay interest rate cuts forecasted for later this year, since the flex of economic strength may ease concern that a continuation of high interest rates would tip the economy into a downturn.
    Max Zahn, ABC News, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • John Irving, an attorney for de Oliveira, declined to comment on Cannon's ruling.
    Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 13 Jan. 2025
  • Part of the reason for this appears to be the expectation that mortgage rates may decline in future and the associated uncertainty for long-term rates.
    Simon Moore, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
Verb
  • There’s a difference between a critic and a fan, but the line between them is receding from view.
    Max Ufberg, hazlitt.net, 10 Jan. 2025
  • Although inflation in Canada has receded to below 2 percent, unemployment remains high, at above 6 percent.
    Natasha Frost, New York Times, 7 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near subside

Cite this Entry

“Subside.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/subside. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on subside

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