" letup "

1: a usually gradual decrease in the pace or level of activity of something;

  * e.g., " ... the downpour continued for hours without letup "

•  Synonyms : 

•  braking,

•  deceleration,

•  downshift,

•  retardation,

•  slowdown

•  Antonyms : 

•  acceleration,

•  hastening,

•  quickening

1: to come to an end;

  * e.g., " ... the rain let up just as we reached the house "

•  Synonyms : 

•  break off,

•  break up,

•  cease,

•  close,

•  conclude,

•  dead-end,

•  determine,

•  die,

•  discontinue,

•  elapse,

•  end,

•  expire,

•  finish,

•  go,

•  halt,

•  lapse,

•  leave off,

•  pass,

•  quit,

•  stop,

•  terminate,

•  wind up,

•  wink (out)

•  Antonyms : 

•  continue,

•  hang on,

•  persist

2: to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually;

  * e.g., " ... the windmill slowed down as the wind let up "

•  Synonyms : 

•  abate,

•  de-escalate,

•  decline,

•  decrease,

•  die (away or down or out),

•  diminish,

•  drain (away),

•  drop (off),

•  dwindle,

•  ease,

•  ebb,

•  fall,

•  fall away,

•  lessen,

•  lower,

•  moderate,

•  pall,

•  phase down,

•  ratchet (down),

•  recede,

•  relent,

•  remit,

•  shrink,

•  subside,

•  taper,

•  taper off,

•  wane

•  Antonyms : 

•  accumulate,

•  balloon,

•  build,

•  burgeon,

•  enlarge,

•  escalate,

•  expand,

•  grow,

•  increase,

•  intensify,

•  mount,

•  mushroom,

•  pick up,

•  rise,

•  snowball,

•  soar,

•  swell,

•  wax

1: as in reduce, decrease;

•  Synonyms : 

•  decrease,

•  diminish,

•  lessen,

•  lower,

•  reduce,

•  subdue,

•  muffle,

•  mute,

•  tone (down),

•  debilitate,

•  enfeeble,

•  weaken,

•  benumb,

•  blunt,

•  cauterize,

•  damp,

•  dampen,

•  deaden,

•  dull,

•  numb,

•  dwindle,

•  recede,

•  subside,

•  taper (off),

•  wane,

•  alleviate,

•  ease,

•  lighten,

•  abate,

•  moderate

•  Antonyms : 

•  sharpen,

•  whet,

•  amplify,

•  augment,

•  beef (up),

•  boost,

•  consolidate,

•  deepen,

•  enhance,

•  heighten,

•  intensify,

•  magnify,

•  redouble,

•  step up,

•  strengthen,

•  animate,

•  arouse,

•  stimulate