fading 1 of 3

adjective

as in sinking

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fading

2 of 3

noun

1
as in weakening

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2
as in passing

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fading

3 of 3

verb

present participle of fade
1
as in vanishing
to cease to be visible the departing ship gradually faded over the horizon

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2
as in bleaching
to make white or whiter by removing color years of harsh sunlight had faded the car, which was once fire-engine red

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3
as in sagging
to lose bodily strength or vigor began to fade after battling the disease for years

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of fading
Adjective
The classic budget-friendly design features a high-rise waistband that stays put, stretchy fabric that’s moisture-wicking and non-fading, and versatile colors like classic black and army green. — Better Homes & Gardens, 11 June 2026 In Aniara, the entire natural world is simply absent, a fading, unsustainable memory of something once alive. — Jenny Odell, Longreads, 2 June 2026 Livaura Retinol Anti-Aging Hand Cream Retinol is a vitamin A derivative that boosts cell turnover and collagen production, while fading wrinkles, fine lines, and reducing visible signs of aging like dullness, dark spots, and texture. — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 4 Apr. 2026 Thus, the wrecking ball came for the Purple Passion Pit and the rest of the complex, a monument to a fading but wonderfully hospitable era of Chicago entertainment and local entrepreneurship. — Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026 Later classified AT2025ulz, the object displayed similar, fading red wavelengths as GW170817. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 17 Dec. 2025 The film is an adaptation of the ghost novel What Happens At Night, which follows a married couple that travels to Europe to adopt a baby, staying in a cavernous, fading European hotel filled with eccentric characters. — Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
This locks the fabric color to help reduce bleeding and fading. — Bianca Lambert, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2026 The deep indigo color has no fading, which gives the jeans a sleeker look, and the leg is relaxed throughout but doesn’t look slouchy. — Shea Simmons, PEOPLE, 31 July 2026 One factor that some have cited about Netflix’s issue with this specifically is that the binge model causes a very fast fading of many shows, especially non-hugely viral ones, from audiences’ collective memory. — Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 He’s handpainted, too, and made from high-density resin that resists cracking, fading, and breakage. — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 July 2026 These give the Synactif Daytime Moisturizer texture-smoothing, tone-evening, contour-sculpting, cell-renewing, age-spot-fading, and wrinkle-plumping properties. — Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 13 July 2026 Moreover, washing certain fabrics in hot water can do more harm than good, leading to shrinking, fading, texture changes, and other types of damage. — Jamie Cuccinelli, Martha Stewart, 4 July 2026 These polishes typically provide an additional disinfectant, can buff out light scratches, and some even include UV protection to prevent fading or discoloration from sun exposure. — Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 29 June 2026
Verb
That's particularly true given a rising risk of JetBlue underperforming on RASM and the fading likelihood of its consolidation with other airlines, Godyn said. — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026 That workplace is fading, and the controls have not kept pace. — Houman Akhavan, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026 Why Boxwoods Turn Brown The key to saving a browning boxwood is understanding why its foliage is fading to begin with, as not all causes are necessarily bad. — Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 5 Aug. 2026 There are a few signs of fading to watch out for, including the flowers beginning to close, losing their firmness, and developing a dry, papery texture. — The Spruce, 4 Aug. 2026 An executive nobody had heard of became a target of online attacks for the offense of trying to turn around a fading chicken and biscuits restaurant. — Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN Money, 2 Aug. 2026 Rather than being propelled to greater heights and providing a template for how to produce future Scotland internationals, the majority are fading to part-time obscurity. — Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2026 Yet the company does have contend with fading interest from its existing consumer base; most users tend to use the product less after two weeks, except for momentary bumps from competitions. — Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 30 July 2026 The result is a suppleness-restoring, hyperpigmentation-fading, fine line-plumping serum with hundreds of five-star ratings. — Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 29 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fading
  1. dying
  2. weakening
  3. passing
  4. vanishing
  5. bleaching
  6. sagging
  7. moribund
  8. deterioration
Adjective
  • What’s the vibe for you, post-dying?
    — Sean T. Collins, Vulture, 22 June 2026
  • Garden centers aren't giving a refund for a dying or dead plant but rather a discount on a new purchase.
    — Lauren David, Southern Living, 17 Dec. 2025
Definition of dying
Noun
  • Parkinson's is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the weakening of nerve cells, which become damaged and die, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
    — Mason Leib, ABC News, 30 July 2026
  • After a dismal two years of weakening demand, falling sales, and damage to its brand by Elon Musk’s political activities, Tesla’s road to recovery continues apace.
    — Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 22 July 2026
Definition of weakening
Noun
  • Adding to the stock's downturn is uncertainty around the passing of the Clarity Act — which aims to define regulations within the crypto industry.
    — Fred Imbert, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The reported passing of Canfield has also been cited as a significant factor in the company’s decline, underscoring how dependent the venture may have been on a single individual.
    — Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of passing
Verb
  • One week after Connecticut reserved $500 million from last year’s surplus to potentially replace vanishing federal dollars for human services, surging revenues already have replenished much of the state’s coffers.
    — Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 3 Aug. 2026
  • The idea was to memorialize a vanishing Eden and the end of his five years of vagabonding, working on rivers, paying no rent.
    — Nick Paumgarten, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of vanishing
Verb
  • Discoloration to Your Driveway Commercial weed killers can stain driveways by leaving behind white chalky residues, bleaching the stone, or damaging protective surface sealers.
    — SJ McShane, Martha Stewart, 31 July 2026
  • Nolasco said a taper is the favorite haircut these days and there’s also players bleaching their hair blond for the playoffs.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2026
Definition of bleaching
Verb
  • Loss of collagen can lead to wrinkles, sagging, and changes in skin texture.
    — Jamie Johnson, Verywell Health, 5 Aug. 2026
  • Without comprehending what was happening, Kikuko looked up at the sagging skin of her father’s throat.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of sagging
Adjective
  • While restoration may be a moribund art, the atmosphere at the NFDA showcase was anything but sepulchral.
    — John Semley, Harpers Magazine, 28 July 2026
  • In Biden’s case, South Carolinians rescued his seemingly moribund campaign.
    — W. James Antle III, The Washington Examiner, 25 July 2026
Definition of moribund
Noun
  • Caregivers like Sherwood report mass burnout, financial strain and deterioration of their own physical and mental health from the stress of providing constant care.
    — Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026
  • The county has been attempting to chip away at its road maintenance backlog for years, but much of its transportation budget has gone toward preventing further deterioration.
    — Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of deterioration

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fades (away)
fading
fading (away)
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Cite this Entry

“Fading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fading. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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