Decelerate — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /(ˌ)dē-ˈse-lə-ˌrāt/ de·cel·er·ate

Meaning & Definition of Decelerate

Decelerate (verb)

  1. to reduce the speed of, slow down
  2. to decrease the rate of progress of
  3. to move at decreasing speed

Decelerate (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to cause to move or proceed at a less rapid pace

    "she decelerated the car as we entered the school zone"

    similar: brake, retard, slacken, slow
    related: halt, stop, encumber, hamper, handicap, hinder, hobble, hold back, hold up, impede, inhibit, obstruct, set back, tie up, bottleneck, arrest, check, constrain, curb, rein, restrain, baffle, foil, frustrate, sabotage, thwart
    opposite: accelerate, hasten, hurry, quicken, rush, speed (up), step up
    near: drive, encourage, goad, propel, push, spur, stir, urge, advance, aid, dispatch, ease, expedite, facilitate, forward, further, help

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Decelerate

The most common words with a similar meaning to Decelerate:

brake, retard, slacken, slow

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Decelerate

Words with the opposite meaning of Decelerate:

accelerate, hasten, hurry, quicken, rush, speed (up), step up

Related Words for Decelerate

halt, stop, encumber, hamper, handicap, hinder, hobble, hold back, hold up, impede, inhibit, obstruct, set back, tie up, bottleneck, arrest, check, constrain, curb, rein, restrain, baffle, foil, frustrate, sabotage, thwart

Near Antonyms of Decelerate

drive, encourage, goad, propel, push, spur, stir, urge, advance, aid, dispatch, ease, expedite, facilitate, forward, further, help

Word Forms of Decelerate

Inflections: decelerated, decelerating

Derived words: deceleration (noun), decelerator (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Decelerate

de- + accelerate

First known use: 1899t

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Decelerate

Frequently Asked Questions about Decelerate

What does "Decelerate" mean?

"Decelerate" means to reduce the speed of, slow down. As a verb, it is defined as: to reduce the speed of, slow down.

What is another word for "Decelerate"?

Other words for "Decelerate" include brake, retard, slacken and slow. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Decelerate" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Decelerate"?

There are 30 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Decelerate". Common alternatives include brake, retard, slacken and slow.

What is the opposite of "Decelerate"?

Antonyms of "Decelerate" include accelerate, hasten, hurry, quicken, rush, speed (up) and step up. Near antonyms include drive, encourage, goad and propel.

How do you use "Decelerate" in a sentence?

Examples of "Decelerate" in a sentence: "she decelerated the car as we entered the school zone".

Is "Decelerate" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Decelerate" is a verb.

Is "Decelerate" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Decelerate" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Decelerate"?

"Decelerate" is pronounced /(ˌ)dē-ˈse-lə-ˌrāt/ and divided into syllables as de·cel·er·ate.