as in reducing
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1
as in minimizing
to express scornfully one's low opinion of
tends to diminish any rival's accomplishments with snide remarks
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2
as in decreasing
to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent
the state's blood supplies were severely diminished by the two consecutive disasters
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3
as in subsiding
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually
the sound of the train diminished as our distance from it increased
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of diminishing
Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 28 Mar. 2026
Pollsters began noting diminishing approval for LGBTQ legal protections.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
But its premise never evolves enough to let loose in ridiculous fashion, yielding diminishing returns.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
The diminishing results amplified his idiosyncrasies.
—Kansas City Star, 11 Mar. 2026
Azerbaijan in recent years has developed ties with Israel and the United States, with Iran's influence in the South Caucasus region diminishing.
—Arkansas Online, 6 Mar. 2026
One plus from the offseason is that Brandon Nimmo’s bat has not shown the diminishing signs that Semien’s displayed the last two years.
—Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News, 28 Feb. 2026
While tech giants pour billions into ever larger training runs, Hooker argues the approach is seeing diminishing returns.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026
The tech itself is also starting to show diminishing returns with each new model release.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 4 Feb. 2026
Keith Cooper, Space.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Without sufficient funds, the upkeep of these amenities may decline, potentially lowering property values and diminishing residents’ quality of life.
—Gary Singer, Sun Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
The administration has lowered the visibility of CDC, Daskalakis says, diminishing a key role of the agency.
—Pien Huang, NPR, 25 Mar. 2026
Lightning is diminishing over shipping lanes as a result of the use of cleaner fuel.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Two other legal actions challenged a federal effort to remove undocumented immigrants from states’ census counts, potentially reducing the number of seats California could hold in Congress and diminishing funding for various programs.
—Sacbee.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Along with concerns about diminishing housing supply, opponents said the measure would shift costs onto small property owners.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 23 Mar. 2026
Now, that revenue stream is diminishing, replaced by empty buildings and ideological spite.
—Lance Christensen, Oc Register, 18 Mar. 2026
The diminishing snow has, in turn, shrunk the Colorado River.
—Jonathan Thompson, Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2026
Noun
Based on the diminishing returns of the Reading Challenge over the years (at this point, the Library needs to be shut down and defunded.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 28 Mar. 2026
Pollsters began noting diminishing approval for LGBTQ legal protections.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
But its premise never evolves enough to let loose in ridiculous fashion, yielding diminishing returns.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
The diminishing results amplified his idiosyncrasies.
—Kansas City Star, 11 Mar. 2026
Azerbaijan in recent years has developed ties with Israel and the United States, with Iran's influence in the South Caucasus region diminishing.
—Arkansas Online, 6 Mar. 2026
One plus from the offseason is that Brandon Nimmo’s bat has not shown the diminishing signs that Semien’s displayed the last two years.
—Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News, 28 Feb. 2026
While tech giants pour billions into ever larger training runs, Hooker argues the approach is seeing diminishing returns.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 4 Feb. 2026
The tech itself is also starting to show diminishing returns with each new model release.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 4 Feb. 2026
Verb
Indeed, the need for RTGs was laid bare by Curiosity and Perseverance's predecessors, the Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity, which were purely solar powered but suffered from diminishing power as Martian dust covered their solar arrays.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 27 Mar. 2026
Without sufficient funds, the upkeep of these amenities may decline, potentially lowering property values and diminishing residents’ quality of life.
—Gary Singer, Sun Sentinel, 26 Mar. 2026
The administration has lowered the visibility of CDC, Daskalakis says, diminishing a key role of the agency.
—Pien Huang, NPR, 25 Mar. 2026
Lightning is diminishing over shipping lanes as a result of the use of cleaner fuel.
—Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Two other legal actions challenged a federal effort to remove undocumented immigrants from states’ census counts, potentially reducing the number of seats California could hold in Congress and diminishing funding for various programs.
—Sacbee.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Along with concerns about diminishing housing supply, opponents said the measure would shift costs onto small property owners.
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 23 Mar. 2026
Now, that revenue stream is diminishing, replaced by empty buildings and ideological spite.
—Lance Christensen, Oc Register, 18 Mar. 2026
The diminishing snow has, in turn, shrunk the Colorado River.
—Jonathan Thompson, Denver Post, 18 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diminishing
Noun
-
The long answer is that Estée Lauder’s Diamond Moisturizer is hydrating (as all moisturizers should be), firming, tightening, wrinkle-reducing, age spot-fading, and texture-smoothing.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Moisturizing, soothing, and redness reducing, Erborian’s CC Cream is the ultimate cult-favorite beauty product.—
Beatrice Zocchi,
Vogue,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Sponsored and provided by LifeBridge Health Maintaining adequate nutrition during cancer treatment is important for sustaining strength, minimizing side effects and supporting the best treatment response possible.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The plan also is aimed at minimizing its impact on the neighborhood.—
Bob Goldsborough,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The situation mirrors a recent case in Sweetwater, where hundreds of families were also displaced under similar terms, with financial incentives decreasing the longer residents wait to leave.—
Ivan Taylor,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Higher rates can help tame inflation and allow savers to earn more interest on their accounts, while lower rates can help stimulate the economy by decreasing borrowing costs.—
Rachel Barber,
USA Today,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But there were no signs that the conflict was subsiding.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Mar. 2026
-
But, by the end of May, the issue was not subsiding.—
Evan Grant,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Using a pastry blender, cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.—
Philip Potempa,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
-
To make some, stir together equal parts flour, shortening, and vegetable oil, then brush this generously on the surface of the pan.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Minnesota public universities can continue to offer in-state tuition and scholarships to some immigrants in the country without legal status, a federal judge ruled on Friday, dismissing a lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice last summer that attempted to halt the programs.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
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While widely dismissing the appeal, the Court also referred preliminary questions to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) regarding certain aspects of the obligation mechanism, leaving the legal debate open.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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While the data show overall birth outcomes improving — declining rates of prematurity, low birth weight, and infant mortality — disparities are still prevalent, particularly for Black women.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The grand jury had the options of handing up an indictment, declining to indict and issuing a report known as a presentment.—
Alexandra Glorioso,
Miami Herald,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
While appearing radical at the time, the revamping of scientific boards to include more industry representatives, the undoing of power plant rules and the lessening of enforcement hobbled but did not completely undo the agency.—
Barbara Kates-Garnick,
The Conversation,
26 Aug. 2025
-
The good news is that GPT-5 will presumably be somewhat less than gushingly friendly, though the lessening might be variable and of a mixed result.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Diminishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diminishing. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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