Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

ease off

VERB
catch one's breath
Synonyms
WEAK
breathe mellow out recuperate relax rest sit down slow down stop for a breath take a break take ten wind down
VERB
die
Synonyms
STRONGEST
deteriorate disappear end expire fail fall pass stop vanish
STRONG
abate bate crumble decay decline degenerate dilapidate diminish droop ebb fade halt lapse moderate molder rankle recede retrograde rot sink slacken subside wane weaken wilt
WEAK
break down fade away fade out fizzle out go bad go downhill let up lose power melt away peter out run down run low run out wear away
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advance appear arrive bear begin commence reach start win
STRONG
build continue develop enhance enlarge extend flourish forge forward grow improve increase prolong rise strengthen
WEAK
be born live
VERB
ebb
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abate degenerate deteriorate die down die out diminish dwindle fall away fall back lessen melt peter out recede shrink slacken wane weaken
STRONG
decay decrease drop fall flag languish moderate relent retire retreat sink withdraw
WEAK
fade away flow back go out let up retrocede
Antonyms
STRONGEST
develop enlarge expand extend forge forward grow improve increase prolong raise rise strengthen
STRONG
advance ascend build flourish
WEAK
flow
VERB
let up
Synonyms
WEAK
abate cease decrease die down die out diminish ease ease up ebb fall moderate release relent slacken slow down stop subside wane
Antonyms
WEAK
continue
VERB
loose/loosen
Synonyms
WEAK
alleviate become unfastened break up deliver detach discharge disconnect disengage disenthrall disjoin ease emancipate extricate free let go let out liberate manumit mitigate relax release separate slacken unbar unbolt unbuckle unbutton unchain unclasp undo unfasten unfix unhitch unhook unlace unlash unlatch unleash unlock unloose unpin unscrew unsnap unstick unstrap untie untighten work free work loose
Antonyms
WEAK
bind limit restrict tighten
VERB
loosen
Synonyms
STRONGEST
alleviate break up ease loose relax slacken undo unlock unscrew untie
STRONG
deliver detach discharge disconnect disengage disjoin emancipate extricate free liberate manumit mitigate release separate unbar unbolt unbuckle unbutton unchain unclasp unfasten unhitch unhook unlace unlash unleash unloose unpin unstrap
WEAK
become unfastened disenthrall lax let go let out unfix unlatch unsnap unstick untighten work free work loose
Antonyms
STRONGEST
increase tighten
STRONG
attach button combine confine connect couple detain engage fasten hitch hold hook imprison incarcerate join keep limit link restrain unite
VERB
moderate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abate alleviate constrain cool curb decrease die down diminish lessen mitigate modify reduce slacken slow soften subdue subside temper tone down wane
STRONG
allay appease assuage calm chasten check decline fall modulate mollify pacify qualify quiet regulate relent relieve repress soft pedal tame
WEAK
cool out let up meet halfway play down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
aggravate develop enlarge expand extend grow incite increase intensify irritate magnify prolong raise release rise strengthen upset
STRONG
agitate aid allow ascend assist go up help permit provoke trouble worry
WEAK
egg on free let go liberate turn over unleash
VERB
relax
Synonyms
STRONGEST
ease loosen lower modify reduce relieve slow weaken
STRONG
abate ebb loose mitigate moderate modulate remit slack slacken
WEAK
lax let up lose speed slow down untighten
Antonyms
STRONGEST
grow increase raise strengthen
STRONG
incite intensify rise
WEAK
agitate excite tense worry
VERB
relax
Synonyms
STRONGEST
calm lie down loosen up recline sit back soften unwind
STRONG
laze repose rest tranquilize unbend unlax
WEAK
breathe easy calm down collect oneself compose oneself cool off feel at home hang loose knock off let oneself go make oneself at home put one's feet up settle back simmer down sit around stop work take a break take a breather take it easy take one's time take ten take time out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
agitate irritate worry
STRONG
be active energize
WEAK
excite grow increase tense
VERB
relent
Synonyms
STRONGEST
acquiesce capitulate cave in come around comply give in give up let go quit relax slacken soften subside
STRONG
drop ease ebb fall fold forbear melt moderate slow wane weaken yield
WEAK
be merciful change one's mind cool it cry uncle die away ease up on give quarter give some slack give way go along with go easy on have mercy have pity lay back let it happen lighten up mellow out say uncle show mercy
Antonyms
STRONGEST
grow increase worry
STRONG
advance ascend continue free rise
WEAK
build
VERB
rest
Synonyms
STRONGEST
breathe lean lie down relax sit down stretch out
STRONG
doze dream drowse idle laze loaf loll lounge nap nod recline repose slack slacken slumber snooze spell unbend unlax unwind
WEAK
be at ease be comfortable compose oneself ease up let down let up lie by lie still put feet up refresh oneself slack off take a break take a nap take five take it easy take life easy take ten take time out wind down
Antonyms
STRONG
do energize
WEAK
activate be active carry out move stand walk
VERB
slack/slacken
Synonyms
WEAK
abate decrease diminish dodge drop off dwindle ease featherbed flag goldbrick goof off idle lax lay back lessen let up lie down on job loose moderate neglect reduce relax release shirk slack off slow down taper tire untighten wane
Antonyms
WEAK
stiffen tighten
VERB
slow
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abate curb curtail decelerate decrease diminish hinder impede lag lessen moderate reduce relax retard slacken stall temper
STRONG
brake check choke detain loiter mire postpone procrastinate qualify quiet reef regulate stunt
WEAK
anchor it back-water bog down cut back cut down ease up embog hit the brakes hold back hold up keep waiting let down flaps lose speed lose steam reduce speed rein in set back wind down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
advance agitate aid allow assist develop encourage enlarge excite expand extend facilitate forward further grow help increase lengthen prolong push raise strengthen
STRONG
accelerate do expedite liberate release
VERB
subside
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abate descend diminish dwindle ease ebb melt peter out recede slacken wane
STRONG
collapse de-escalate decline drop fall lower lull moderate quieten settle sink taper
WEAK
cave in die away let up level off
Antonyms
STRONGEST
develop enlarge expand extend grow increase prolong rise
STRONG
ascend go up
VERB
unwind
Synonyms
STRONGEST
sit back take it easy
STRONG
quieten recline rest
WEAK
calm down loosen up quiet down slow down take a break wind down
Antonyms
WEAK
agitate prepare ready tangle twist wind
VERB
wane
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abate atrophy decrease die down die out dim dwindle ebb fade peter out shrink slacken subside taper off weaken wither
STRONG
decline drop fail fall moderate relent sink
WEAK
die away draw to a close fade away fall short let up slack off waste away wind down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
brighten develop enhance enlarge expand extend grow increase rise strengthen
STRONG
ascend go up reach win
WEAK
raise

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Conditions at sea are expected to ease off later as sailors race down the east coast before tackling the treacherous Bass Strait crossing to Tasmania.

From Barron's • Dec. 26, 2025

When we got close, McGinnis would call out which direction the shark was facing, and Lowe would ease off the throttle so we could quietly glide up behind the shark.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 14, 2025

The goal was to ease off the economic brakes a little, allowing the economy to slow gently without risking a painful crash.

From New York Times • Nov. 26, 2024

Will Lanning ease off the pedal just enough Friday night to allow Oregon’s greatest assets — its players — to do what they do best?

From Seattle Times • Nov. 29, 2023

Bobby Moch told Hume to ease off on the rate a bit, and Hume backed it down toward thirty-five.

From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown