ebbs

Pulls back slowly

Ebbs is the verb form of ebb, meaning to recede or flow back.

The tide ebbs when it retreats from shore.

By extension, anything that diminishes or fades ebbs: Her enthusiasm ebbs as the project drags on, His strength ebbs with each passing day.

The noun ebb describes this receding state—at low ebb means at the weakest point.

decline

wane

Decrease gradually

fadeLose intensity gradually
diminishTo make smaller
dwindleDecrease gradually over time

decrease · subside · lessen · weaken · recede · decline · slump · downturn · deterioration · decay

tidal

lowtide

Ocean at minimum level

recedeMove back from
withdrawRemove or pull away
backflowLiquid reversing course

retreat · outgoing · neap · tidepools · sandbars · mudflats · estuary · intertidal · strandline · shorebirds

cyclical

rhythm

Patterned stress and silence

fluctuationIrregular change over time
pulseArterial blood throb
cycleRepeating sequence of events

wax · oscillation · periodic · undulation · alternation · flux · surge · pattern · regularity · interval

Categories

verbsjump, be, speak, wait, do
fluctuationsfluctuations, oscillations, variations, swings, waves
slowing downbraking, brakes, crawl, coasts, creep
erodeserodes, corrodes, abrades, wears down, wears out
falls offdrops, tumbles, slips, detaches, topples

Opposites

tidal movement

Moves in a current

floods · surges · rises · comes in · rushes in

intensity/quantity change

Becomes greater in amount

grows · swells · rises · builds · escalates

energy/vitality

Abrupt powerful rises

rallies · revives · flourishes · thrives · rebounds

Phrases

ebb and flowCyclical rise and decline
ebb tideReceding ocean current
ebbed and flowedVaried in recurring cycles
ebbing and flowingAlternately advancing and retreating

Family

ebb, ebbing, ebbed, ebbtide

Familiarity: Top 200,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Everyday, not technical · Rated G