tapering
8 synonyms and 1 antonym for tapering, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — The act of reducing something in stages instead of stopping it suddenly, especially the dose of a drug.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. noun
The act of reducing something in stages instead of stopping it suddenly, especially the dose of a drug.
“Tapering off antidepressants too quickly can bring on withdrawal symptoms.”
Opposites
abrupt cessation
How to use tapering
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
tapering off
tapering schedule
slow taper
tapering period
Neutral; the specific meaning depends heavily on the field.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between tapering and stopping cold turkey?
Tapering lowers a dose in planned steps so the body adjusts as it goes. Going cold turkey stops the substance entirely at once, which for drugs such as benzodiazepines, opioids or alcohol can be dangerous as well as unpleasant.
Why do runners taper before a race?
Hard training leaves accumulated fatigue that masks fitness. Cutting the volume, while keeping some intensity, lets muscles repair and glycogen stores refill, so the fitness already built can show up on race day.
