wane 1 of 2

wane

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How is the word wane distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of wane are abate, ebb, and subside. While all these words mean "to die down in force or intensity," wane suggests the fading or weakening of something good or impressive.

waning enthusiasm

When could abate be used to replace wane?

The words abate and wane can be used in similar contexts, but abate stresses the idea of progressive diminishing.

the storm abated

When is it sensible to use ebb instead of wane?

While in some cases nearly identical to wane, ebb suggests the receding of something (such as the tide) that commonly comes and goes.

the ebbing of daylight

Where would subside be a reasonable alternative to wane?

The meanings of subside and wane largely overlap; however, subside implies the ceasing of turbulence or agitation.

the protests subsided after a few days

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 wane
Verb
The fall and new student headcount both dropped in the past two years after numbers began to climb slightly in 2022, as the direct impact of the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic began to wane. Amy Lavalley, Chicago Tribune, 21 May 2025 The latter part of May, notably from Tuesday, May 20, to Friday, May 30, will be best for viewing, especially with the moon beginning to wane. Valerie Mesa, People.com, 20 May 2025
Noun
At different life stages, the importance of work relationships waxes and wanes. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025 The sun has a roughly 11-year solar cycle, during which our star's activity waxes and wanes. Jamie Carter, Space.com, 28 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wane
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wane
Verb
  • So much oil got sucked out of the port and its neighborhoods that the ground started to subside, in some places yards deep.
    Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2025
  • There was a slight uptick in turnovers in the postseason, but that must subside against the Thunder.
    Zach Harper, New York Times, 20 May 2025
Noun
  • At the time of writing, United are 16th, their lowest ebb since they were last relegated in 1974.
    Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 May 2025
  • Schools are hesitant to grow too fast for fear they’ll be forced to retrench once today’s crisis ebbs.
    Maria Flynn, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The 25-year-old’s sample might be small, but in an era of diminishing workloads, Zack Wheeler and Max Fried are the only current starters averaging 6 1/3 innings.
    Ken Rosenthal, New York Times, 2 June 2025
  • Augmenting Human Relationships with AI AI's role in enhancing efficiency does not diminish the need for human expertise in B2B interactions.
    John Bruno, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Noun
  • But there are also other factors contributing to the job decline, such as price compression caused by oversupply, which has forced many operators to cut costs, including labor expenses.
    Dario Sabaghi, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
  • That's when crossings at the border first began their sharp decline, a trend that accelerated after Trump took office.
    Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 26 May 2025
Verb
  • As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases.
    KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT, Kansas City Star, 1 June 2025
  • These students, many already at an educational disadvantage, are left with instability, fewer learning opportunities and decreased academic performance.
    Lakeisha Wells Palmer, The Orlando Sentinel, 1 June 2025
Noun
  • Listen to this article GAINESVILLE — Florida freshman slugger Taylor Shumaker ended her weekend slump in record-setting fashion but not before shortstop Rylee Holtorf showed why the Gators will be a tough out during the Women’s College World Series.
    Edgar Thompson, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 May 2025
  • Amid a poor shooting slump in the preseason, Josh Hart volunteered to join the second unit.
    Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 24 May 2025
Verb
  • More housing with fewer people needing housing, prices will fall.
    Roger Valdez, Forbes.com, 3 June 2025
  • In 2023, the number of fatalities fell slightly, to six fatal boating incidents resulting in seven deaths, according to state data.
    Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 3 June 2025
Noun
  • This marks a notable increase over more conventional antidepressant therapy treatments, whose remission rates hover around 45 percent.
    John Semley, Rolling Stone, 19 Apr. 2025
  • While these drugs can induce remission, long-term survival rate remains unfavorable.
    William A. Haseltine, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Wane.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wane. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on wane

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!