abate

verb

ə-ˈbāt 
Definition of abate
1
as in to subside
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually interest in the author's home abated as her novels waned in popularity

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to reduce
to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent a couple of aspirin should abate the pain

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to abolish
to put an end to by formal action asked the appellate court to abate the lower court's ruling allowing the patient to be removed from life support

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to subtract
to take away (an amount or number) from a total I managed to get the used car dealer to abate $200 from the sticker price

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in to deprive
to take something away from recurring problems could not abate her of her enthusiasm for the project

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word abate distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of abate are ebb, subside, and wane. While all these words mean "to die down in force or intensity," abate stresses the idea of progressive diminishing.

the storm abated

Where would ebb be a reasonable alternative to abate?

The words ebb and abate can be used in similar contexts, but 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 subside instead of abate?

Although the words subside and abate have much in common, subside implies the ceasing of turbulence or agitation.

the protests subsided after a few days

In what contexts can wane take the place of abate?

The synonyms wane and abate are sometimes interchangeable, 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 abate The wild swings of recent weeks, driven by waxing and waning hopes for a lasting boost to corporate profits from artificial intelligence, have abated in the past several days. — ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026 The letter didn’t sufficiently abate those (and other) concerns, and the PCSA didn’t reach the floor. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 11 Aug. 2026 And, at least for now, despite the threat of revolt, internal pressure within FIFA appears to have abated. — Aleks Klosok, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026 The family feud in the Beckham household shows no signs of abating. — Alessandra De Tommasi, Vanity Fair, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for abate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abate
  1. subside
  2. reduce
  3. abolish
  4. subtract
  5. deprive
  6. decrease
  7. repeal
  8. deduct
Verb
  • Two of them coincide with areas where satellite radar shows that the ground is actively subsiding.
    — Nolan Roth, Scientific American, 23 Aug. 2026
  • After the smoke subsided, residents reported feeling effects from the stench of rotting meat and food from the warehouse interior, where it had been stored frozen on tall racks that were hundreds of feet across.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of subside
Verb
  • Proponents say such a system can reduce response time in the face of gun violence or a medical emergency.
    — Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Rather than having dog kennels lined up across from each other like in traditional shelters, the New Leash on Life design will have kennels on one side facing a hallway to reduce barking and stress.
    — Anna Ortiz, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of reduce
Verb
  • Japan has faced growing criticism over its use of the death penalty, as a majority of the international community has abolished capital punishment.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Calls to abolish capital punishment or increase transparency have grown after the 2024 acquittal of the world’s longest-serving death-row inmate, Iwao Hakamada.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of abolish
Verb
  • The blue line is the actual MACD and is calculated by subtracting the 26-period exponential moving average (EMA) from the 12-period EMA.
    — Zev Fima, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The simplest definition of the term premium is to subtract the yield on the shorter-term bond from the yield on the longer-maturity bond.
    — Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of subtract
Verb
  • This annual launch window systematically overshadows events like IFA Berlin, depriving mid-range Android devices of crucial media attention.
    — Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Perpetuals never expire, negating the need to roll contracts and depriving exchanges of a lucrative revenue stream.
    — Oliver Renick, CNBC, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of deprive
Verb
  • The researchers’ models suggest that areas near the escarpment could have lost as much as 8 kilometers of rock, with erosion decreasing farther away from the ancient cliff.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 21 Aug. 2026
  • An early positive working relationship has been struck with Ross Wilson, the sporting director, and the pair usually speak multiple times every day, although their volume of conversations may decrease slightly once the transfer window closes.
    — Chris Waugh, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of decrease
Verb
  • That includes prohibiting the construction of AI data centers in rural Texas neighborhoods, reducing the impacts of data centers on local communities, and repealing sales tax exemptions and other incentives.
    — Jack Fink, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
  • According to correspondence reviewed by ProPublica, the Joint Staff disagreed with the Army acting secretary, who said in a February 2025 memo that the program was redundant and recommended Congress repeal the law that set it in motion.
    — Megan Rose, ProPublica, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of repeal
Verb
  • Those fees may not be readily evident, since fund managers deduct them automatically from an account rather than having the investor pay directly.
    — Greg Iacurci, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The bungalow cost $100 a month, which was deducted from her MGM paycheck.
    — Juliana Ukiomogbe, Architectural Digest, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of deduct

Browse Nearby Words

abasing
abate
abated
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Cite this Entry

“Abate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abate. Accessed 27 Aug. 2026.

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