Receded

EBBED

Think of how the tide slowly pulls back from the shore, often leaving wet sand behind. This word describes that gradual retreat.

"Receded" is a straightforward definition clue pointing to a word that means to gradually go back or diminish. The answer "EBBED" fits perfectly because it describes the way tides or water levels recede, but it also works more broadly for anything that lessens over time. The wordplay is simple here—no tricks—just a direct match between the clue and the answer’s meaning.