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Definitions

wind down

[wahynd-doun] / ˈwaɪndˌdaʊn /
VERB
catch one's breath
Synonyms
WEAK
breathe ease off mellow out recuperate relax rest sit down slow down stop for a breath take a break take ten
VERB
close
Synonyms
STRONGEST
conclude do end halt shutter
STRONG
cap cease clear clinch consummate culminate determine discontinue fold terminate ultimate
WEAK
button down button up call it a day call off cut loose drop the curtain fold up pack it in put a lid on put to bed sew up shut down wind up wrap up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
begin commence start
STRONG
continue initiate open
WEAK
not finish
VERB
kick back
Synonyms
STRONGEST
lie down recline sit back take it easy unwind
WEAK
breathe easy calm down catch one's breath chill out collect oneself compose oneself cool off feel at home hang loose loosen up make oneself at home mellow out put one's feet up rest settle back sit around take a break take a breather take a load off take ten
VERB
lessen
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abate curtail decrease dilute diminish dwindle ease erode impair lighten minimize mitigate narrow shrink slacken taper off weaken
STRONG
abridge amputate attenuate clip close contract crop cut de-escalate decline degrade downsize drain minify moderate soft pedal taper thin truncate
WEAK
become smaller cut back die down grow less roll back slack up slow down take the bite out take the edge off take the sting out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
develop enlarge expand extend grow increase intensify irritate lengthen prolong strengthen worsen
STRONG
go up rise stretch
WEAK
raise
VERB
reduce
Synonyms
STRONGEST
curtail cut cut down diminish dwindle knock off lessen lower pare scale down shorten slash trim weaken
STRONG
abate abridge bankrupt break cheapen chop clip contract debase deflate depreciate depress diet dilute discount drain impair impoverish moderate pauperize rebate recede ruin shave slim taper truncate
WEAK
bant cut back go on a diet lose weight mark down nutshell roll back slow down step down take off weight taper off tone down turn down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
compliment develop enlarge expand extend grow increase lengthen praise prolong raise strengthen
STRONG
amplify enhance laud rise stretch upgrade
WEAK
invigorate win
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 off 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
Antonyms
STRONG
do energize
WEAK
activate be active carry out move stand walk
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 off 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
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
taper
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abate dwindle lessen recede subside taper off
STRONG
bate close diminish drain fade narrow reduce rescind thin wane weaken
WEAK
die away die out thin out
Antonyms
STRONGEST
enlarge extend grow increase rise
STRONG
expand raise strengthen
WEAK
go up
VERB
taper/taper off
Synonyms
WEAK
abate bate close come to a point die away die out diminish drain dwindle fade lessen narrow recede reduce rescind subside thin thin out wane weaken
Antonyms
WEAK
go up increase rise
VERB
terminate
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abolish abort adjourn annul cancel cease complete conclude cut off determine discharge discontinue dismiss dissolve eliminate expire halt put an end to recess restrict sack wrap up
STRONG
achieve bounce bound close confine define desist drop end extinguish fire issue lapse limit perfect prorogue result scratch scrub tether wrap
WEAK
bring to an end come to an end prorogate run out ultimate wind up
Antonyms
STRONGEST
accept allow begin carry on commence continue employ encourage engage establish hire hold introduce keep keep on permit ratify start uphold welcome
STRONG
bear create free go on let go release restart schedule set up
WEAK
initiate open
VERB
unwind
Synonyms
STRONGEST
sit back take it easy
STRONG
quieten recline rest
WEAK
calm down ease off loosen up quiet down slow down take a break
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 ease off fade away fall short let up slack off waste away
Antonyms
STRONGEST
brighten develop enhance enlarge expand extend grow increase rise strengthen
STRONG
ascend go up reach win
WEAK
raise
NOUN
truce
Synonyms
STRONGEST
accord agreement amnesty armistice cease-fire détente lull moratorium pause peace reconciliation reprieve suspension
STRONG
break breather cessation de-escalation halt intermission interval letup respite rest stay terms treaty
WEAK
olive branch temporary peace white flag wind-down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
continuation disagreement persistence war
STRONG
go start
WEAK
fight

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.

Claude even helped her develop a nightly wind-down routine, improving her quality of sleep.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 28, 2026

"The measure mainly allows Russian barrels already in transit to complete voyages and discharge," she said in a note, calling it a "wind-down, not reopening."

From Barron's • Mar. 13, 2026

A gradual wind-down, an employee stock-ownership plan, a partial sale or a spin-off may save some jobs, but perhaps not all of them — and that’s OK.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 10, 2026

It said the drop in sales was also partly due to the planned wind-down of older Jaguar models.

From BBC • Jul. 8, 2025

Reggie takes a deep breath, a wind-down breath.

From "A Deadly Wandering: A Mystery, a Landmark Investigation, and the Astonishing Science of Attention in the Digital Age" by Matt Richtel