ebb
Water pulls back
Ebb is the receding of the tide as water flows back out to sea, opposite of flow.
The tide ebbs twice daily.
By extension, anything that diminishes or declines ebbs: Her enthusiasm began to ebb.
The phrase ebb and flow describes natural cycles of increase and decrease.
At a low ebb means at a weakened or depleted state: Morale was at a low ebb.
Sanctuary or withdrawal
- withdrawRemove or pull away
- recedeMove back from
- backflowLiquid reversing course
- pull backTo retreat or disengage
drain · subside · fall back · retract · shrink back · regress · draw back · retire
Decrease gradually
- fadeLose intensity gradually
- diminishTo make smaller
- dwindleDecrease gradually over time
- decreaseBecome or make smaller
subside · weaken · taper · abate · lessen · shrink · peter out · flag
retreat
Sanctuary or withdrawal
pull back · drain · subside · fall back · retract · shrink back · regress · draw back · retire
wane
Decrease gradually
decrease · subside · weaken · taper · abate · lessen · shrink · peter out · flag · slacken
neap
Tide of least range
outgoing · incoming · low · high · currents · flow · oceanography · estuary · intertidal · coastal
nadir
Lowest possible point
depression · doldrums · slump · downturn · rock bottom · low point · depths · valley · pit · decline
- declinesdrop, decline, downtrend, downturn, downfall
- slumpsslump, lull, losing streak, cold streak, rut
- tidal movementsflood tide, tidal bore, tidal current, tidal stream, tidal flow
- tideshigh tide, low tide, tides, flood tide, neap tide
- tidal currentsflood, slack water, tidal stream
- declinedecline, in decline, decrease, downswing, on the decline
- ebb and flowCyclical rise and decline
- ebb tideReceding ocean current
- ebbed and flowedVaried in recurring cycles
- ebbing and flowingAlternately advancing and retreating