Thesaurus.com
Dictionary.com
Definitions

peter

[pee-ter] / ˈpi tər /
VERB
decrease
Synonyms
STRONG
check contract curb decay decline degenerate drain droop drop ease ebb fade lower quiet rebate settle shrink sink slash slump taper wane waste
WEAK
abate calm down crumble curtail cut down depreciate deteriorate devaluate die down diminish drop off dry up dwindle evaporate fall off lessen let up lighten lose edge modify narrow down peter out quell reduce restrain run low shrivel slack off slacken slow down soften subside tail away tail off weaken wear away wear down wither
Antonyms
STRONG
aid ascend assist build develop enlarge expand go up grow help improve increase pour raise rise strengthen stretch

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.

On 12 November, Mandelson received an email with the subject "Paris" which read: "Hi peter, Valdson, Jeffrey's driver, will be picking you up today from the train station... see you this evening!"

From BBC • Feb. 4, 2026

A counterfrontier runs from the lower right to the upper left, beyond which the Danish place names left by the Vikings peter out.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

It remains to be seen when the rally will peter out.

From Barron's • Dec. 10, 2025

“And sometimes the benefit is you’re really just starting to kick into high gear when everybody’s starting to peter out. And sometimes that can feel like a breath of fresh air.”

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 24, 2025

He looked in the other direction and saw people bunched up to his left, and they began to peter out closer to 8th Street.

From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro