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.

“We were hoping that in 2026 demand would ease off a little bit as 2025 was this incredible year with a lot of things happening, but we’re not seeing it,” said Flood.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

Should the world ease off on its purchases, that could pull the rug out from under China’s economy.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 12, 2026

A few hundred miles away, Chicago has already seen a surge of immigration agents, and a crackdown on its streets, ease off somewhat.

From BBC • Jan. 31, 2026

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

With less than 100 feet left, they saw the plane ease off the ground and begin to climb.

From "Bomb" by Steve Sheinkin

ease off

Example Sentences

Related Words