The term 'tapered off' is used to describe a gradual decrease in intensity or activity. The crossword solutions for this term are 'WANED' (5 letters), 'abated' (6 letters), 'EBBED' (5 letters), and 'abed' (4 letters). All of these words can be used to describe the same concept, which is a decrease in something over time. WANED means to have gradually decreased, abated means to have become less intense or severe, EBBED means to have receded like the tide, and abed means to have gone to sleep.