minimize

verb min·i·mize \ ˈmi-nə-ˌmīz \

Definition of minimize

minimized; minimizing

transitive verb

1 :to reduce or keep to a minimum

minimize costs

minimize delays

2 :to underestimate intentionally :play down, soft-pedal

minimizing losses in our own forces while maximizing those of the enemy

3 :to replace (a window) on a computer display with a small button or icon which will restore the window when selected

—

minimization

play \ˌmi-nə-mə-ˈzā-shən\ noun

—

minimizer

play \ˈmi-nə-ˌmī-zər\ noun

See minimize defined for English-language learners

See minimize defined for kids

Examples of minimize in a Sentence

We need to minimize the chance of error.
The company will work to minimize costs.
I don't want to minimize the contributions he has made to the company.
During the interview, she minimized her weaknesses and emphasized her strengths.
Please minimize all open windows.

Recent Examples of minimize from the Web

How can younger professionals minimize the missteps on the way up the corporate ladder?

— mark fadden, star-telegram, "In Pursuit of Profession: Well Excuuuuseeee Me!," 20 Aug. 2017
By providing access to training and tools, KCicletas minimizes the costs of bike ownership.

— lisa deaderick, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Bringing a love of bikes to his community," 19 Aug. 2017
Security experts say such barriers would have minimized the fatal damage wreaked on Spain this week — yet warn that as long as motor vehicles exist, some risks will always remain.

— angela charlton, The Seattle Times, "Cities seek creative ways to prevent car or van attacks," 18 Aug. 2017
The goal of his offseason work was to eliminate, or at least minimize, that gap on the defensive end.

— jeff greer, The Courier-Journal, "Louisville basketball look ahead: Preparing for Quentin Snider's final run with the Cards," 17 Aug. 2017
Major health insurers have benefited from minimizing their exposure to Obamacare.

— zachary tracer, Bloomberg.com, "Insurers Think They’ve Found the Perfect Patients for Profits," 4 Aug. 2017
McMaster's allies have accused Bannon and his protege Sebastian Gorka, a cable-news mainstay, of waging a concerted campaign to minimize the national security adviser's influence.

— greg jaffe and philip rucker, chicagotribune.com, "As Trump's patience wanes, McMaster navigates divide over U.S. Afghan strategy," 4 Aug. 2017
The work will be arranged to minimize disruptions for drivers on a section of highway where backups occur frequently, said a spokesperson for the Maryland Department of Transportation State Highway Administration, which is overseeing the project.

— david anderson, The Aegis, "Congested section of Route 22 undergoing widening, bike and pedestrian improvements," 4 Aug. 2017
Given to the patient shortly before the transplant, the infusion of antibodies theoretically reduces the host's residual T cells, minimizing the risk of graft rejection while eliminating T cells from the donor to thwart GVHD.

— jon cohen, Science | AAAS, "A stem cell transplant helped beat back a young doctor’s cancer. Now, it’s assaulting his body," 12 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'minimize.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of minimize

1825

minimize Synonyms

Synonyms

bad-mouth, belittle, cry down, denigrate, deprecate, depreciate, derogate, diminish, dis (also diss) [slang], discount, dismiss, disparage, kiss off, decry, play down, poor-mouth, put down, run down, talk down, trash, trash-talk, vilipend, write off

Antonyms

acclaim, applaud, exalt, extol (also extoll), glorify, laud, magnify, praise

Related Words

discommend; abuse, scold; disapprove (of), dislike; censure, condemn, criticize, denounce, reprehend, reprobate; asperse, defame, malign, rip, slander, slur, traduce, vilify; discredit, disgrace

Near Antonyms

approve, countenance, endorse (also indorse), favor, recommend, sanction; commend, compliment, eulogize

MINIMIZE Defined for English Language Learners

minimize

verb

Definition of minimize for English Language Learners

: to make (something bad or not wanted) as small as possible
: to treat or describe (something) as smaller or less important than it is
computers : to make (a program's window) change to a very small form that takes almost no room on a computer's screen