Synonyms of abate

abate

verb

ə-ˈbāt 

1

as in to subside

to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually

interest in the author's home abated as her novels waned in popularity

Synonyms & Similar Words

• subside
• decrease
• diminish
• fall
• decline
• vanish
• shrink
• ease
• recede
• lessen
• wane
• ebb
• relent
• moderate
• die (away or down or out)
• dwindle
• taper
• drain (away)
• pall
• drop (off)
• fall away
• weaken
• remit
• evaporate
• taper off
• lower
• let up
• de-escalate
• phase down
• ratchet (down)
• rachet (down)
• alleviate
• collapse
• slacken
• compress
• constrict
• fade (away)
• relax
• tail (off)
• condense
• slow (down)
• contract
• melt (away)
• give out
• peter (out)
• fritter (away)
• sink
• deflate
• cave (in)
• flag

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• increase
• rise
• grow
• intensify
• build
• accumulate
• escalate
• expand
• swell
• enlarge
• soar
• mount
• appear
• emerge
• pick up
• wax
• show up
• burgeon
• snowball
• mushroom
• lengthen
• balloon
• blow up
• elongate
• distend

2

as in to reduce

to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent

a couple of aspirin should abate the pain

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reduce
• decrease
• diminish
• deplete
• lessen
• minimize
• lower
• ease
• dwindle
• dent
• downsize
• knock down
• slash
• cut
• drop
• de-escalate
• compress
• shrink
• downscale
• curtail
• shorten
• pare
• constrict
• cut down
• retrench
• abridge
• abbreviate
• trim
• cut back
• condense
• dock
• prune
• modify
• truncate
• contract
• modulate
• deflate
• crop
• whittle
• nick
• moderate
• qualify
• clip

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• increase
• augment
• expand
• escalate
• raise
• amplify
• enlarge
• boost
• swell
• extend
• prolong
• inflate
• dilate
• lengthen
• blow up
• add (to)
• intensify
• enhance
• supplement
• complement
• aggrandize
• elongate
• heighten
• distend
• protract
• redouble

3

as in to abolish

to put an end to by formal action

asked the appellate court to abate the lower court's ruling allowing the patient to be removed from life support

Synonyms & Similar Words

• abolish
• repeal
• cancel
• avoid
• overturn
• vacate
• quash
• dissolve
• nullify
• invalidate
• void
• abrogate
• annul
• rescind
• negate
• withdraw
• dismiss
• revoke
• strike down
• roll back
• set aside
• suspend
• eliminate
• reverse
• null
• remove
• do away with
• disannul
• reject
• retract
• veto
• overrule
• forbid
• override
• eradicate
• recall
• prohibit
• enjoin
• ban
• erase
• abort
• countermand
• annihilate
• call off
• outlaw
• disallow
• drop
• liquidate
• call
• throw out
• write off
• break down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• enact
• establish
• found
• legislate
• lay down
• institute
• legitimate
• permit
• validate
• allow
• pass
• authorize
• approve
• ratify
• prescribe
• warrant
• legitimize
• order
• legalize
• endorse
• formalize
• clear
• sanction
• command
• mandate
• decree

4

as in to subtract

to take away (an amount or number) from a total

I managed to get the used car dealer to abate $200 from the sticker price

Synonyms & Similar Words

• subtract
• deduct
• reduce
• decrease
• diminish
• take off
• lessen
• discount
• dwindle
• curtail
• cut down
• lower
• knock off
• shorten
• abridge
• dock
• cut back
• slash
• downsize
• prune
• cut
• truncate
• crop
• pare
• knock down
• retrench
• abbreviate
• trim
• clip
• whittle

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• add
• tack (on)
• supplement
• intensify
• complement
• enhance
• increase
• annex
• append
• heighten
• adjoin
• augment
• expand
• magnify
• escalate
• raise
• amplify
• enlarge
• multiply
• boost
• compound
• aggrandize
• beef (up)

5

as in to deprive

to take something away from

recurring problems could not abate her of her enthusiasm for the project

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deprive
• strip
• divest
• bereave
• denude
• defraud
• clean (out)
• shortchange
• bankrupt
• impoverish
• cheat
• disfurnish

Synonym Chooser

How is the word abate distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of abate are ebb, subside, and wane. While all these words mean "to die down in force or intensity," abate stresses the idea of progressive diminishing.

the storm abated

Where would ebb be a reasonable alternative to abate?

The words ebb and abate can be used in similar contexts, but ebb suggests the receding of something (such as the tide) that commonly comes and goes.

the ebbing of daylight

When is it sensible to use subside instead of abate?

Although the words subside and abate have much in common, subside implies the ceasing of turbulence or agitation.

the protests subsided after a few days

In what contexts can wane take the place of abate?

The synonyms wane and abate are sometimes interchangeable, but wane suggests the fading or weakening of something good or impressive.

waning enthusiasm

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of abate

Durston Gear The double-wall design with fully independent fly and inner tents improves ventilation while helping to abate interior condensation. — New Atlas, 16 Aug. 2026

Within days of receiving antibiotics, her symptoms started to abate. — Erika Edwards, NBC news, 13 Aug. 2026

The wild swings of recent weeks, driven by waxing and waning hopes for a lasting boost to corporate profits from artificial intelligence, have abated in the past several days. — ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026

The letter didn’t sufficiently abate those (and other) concerns, and the PCSA didn’t reach the floor. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 11 Aug. 2026