as in reducing
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1
as in diminishing
to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent
workers decreased the volume of water flowing through the pipes in order to prevent an overflow
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in subsiding
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually
the force of the wind slowly decreased until the flowers were standing upright again
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Recent Examples of decreasing
Catherine Salfino, Sourcing Journal, 22 Dec. 2025
With the circuit length decreasing, the Singapore Grand Prix increased the number of laps by one.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
In the mid-August Economist/YouGov survey, 32% said the unemployment rate was increasing while 22% decreasing.
—Karlyn Bowman, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026
The formulation hits all the targets my tired eyes crave—brightening dark circles, decreasing puffiness, and reducing the look of fine lines.
—Cathy Nelson, InStyle, 4 Feb. 2026
Even with the rapidly decreasing price of launching things into space, there are incredible technological and financial hurdles that stand in the way of exploiting resources in orbit.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 4 Feb. 2026
The spokesperson also said the company has amended its policies to deter host cancellations, decreasing such instances by 30 percent year over year since July 2023.
—Melanie Anzidei, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Inflammation May Decrease Blackberries contain compounds that protect cells by decreasing free radicals and inhibiting inflammation.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 4 Feb. 2026
Or will new sliding metrics, such as dipping theme park attendance due to decreasing numbers of international visitors — thought to be linked to Trump’s policies and anti-immigrant sentiment — urge D’Amaro to hold steady?
—Brent Lang, Variety, 3 Feb. 2026
Her priorities include providing more support for small businesses; cutting taxes; increasing science, technology, and workforce training; expanding agricultural exports; protecting privacy; and decreasing the national debt.
—Todd Feurer, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
Multiple issues, including failure of some instruments and decreasing visibility conditions, occurred in the minutes leading up to the Statesville plane crash that killed seven people in December, including NASCAR star Greg Biffle and his family, a preliminary federal report released Friday said.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2026
Noun
And Americans are responding to the messaging, with spending on these weight loss meds increasing and the obesity rate decreasing.
—Catherine Salfino, Sourcing Journal, 22 Dec. 2025
With the circuit length decreasing, the Singapore Grand Prix increased the number of laps by one.
—Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
In the mid-August Economist/YouGov survey, 32% said the unemployment rate was increasing while 22% decreasing.
—Karlyn Bowman, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Verb
The biggest shift in the financial model of newspapers that has occurred in the transition from print to digital is a decreasing reliance on advertising and an increasing reliance on direct payments from subscribers.
—Hanna Rosin, The Atlantic, 5 Feb. 2026
The formulation hits all the targets my tired eyes crave—brightening dark circles, decreasing puffiness, and reducing the look of fine lines.
—Cathy Nelson, InStyle, 4 Feb. 2026
Even with the rapidly decreasing price of launching things into space, there are incredible technological and financial hurdles that stand in the way of exploiting resources in orbit.
—Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 4 Feb. 2026
The spokesperson also said the company has amended its policies to deter host cancellations, decreasing such instances by 30 percent year over year since July 2023.
—Melanie Anzidei, New York Times, 4 Feb. 2026
Inflammation May Decrease Blackberries contain compounds that protect cells by decreasing free radicals and inhibiting inflammation.
—Jillian Kubala, Health, 4 Feb. 2026
Or will new sliding metrics, such as dipping theme park attendance due to decreasing numbers of international visitors — thought to be linked to Trump’s policies and anti-immigrant sentiment — urge D’Amaro to hold steady?
—Brent Lang, Variety, 3 Feb. 2026
Her priorities include providing more support for small businesses; cutting taxes; increasing science, technology, and workforce training; expanding agricultural exports; protecting privacy; and decreasing the national debt.
—Todd Feurer, CBS News, 2 Feb. 2026
Multiple issues, including failure of some instruments and decreasing visibility conditions, occurred in the minutes leading up to the Statesville plane crash that killed seven people in December, including NASCAR star Greg Biffle and his family, a preliminary federal report released Friday said.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 31 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decreasing
Noun
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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
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Moisturizing, soothing, and redness reducing, Erborian’s CC Cream is the ultimate cult-favorite beauty product.—
Beatrice Zocchi,
Vogue,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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From there, steamboats of diminishing sizes could make their way up the Mississippi, Ohio and Missouri rivers and smaller ones like the Tennessee, Arkansas and even the Wabash.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
1 Feb. 2026
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Which wouldn’t be such a bad outcome for most documentary films — arguably moviedom’s most beleaguered genre due to diminishing audience appetite at the multiplex level.—
Chris Lee,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Experts have predicted that AI systems capable of autonomously improving themselves, otherwise known as recursive self-improvement, might vastly increase the speed at which AI development takes place, potentially shortening years of complex research into weeks or even days.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
5 Feb. 2026
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Using a pastry blender, cut in the ⅓ cup butter and the shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.—
Jenavieve Christensen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Though snowy conditions are subsiding, the impacts of the storm will linger in the coming days—especially as many regions that saw snowfall are beginning the week with single-digit temperatures.—
Simmone Shah,
Time,
26 Jan. 2026
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Sausalito crews set up a 4-inch pump near Gate 5 Road in the city’s northernmost neighborhood, where the grounds have been subsiding.—
Steven Rosenfeld,
Mercury News,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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According to the Iowa Cancer Registry, lung cancer incidence rates are declining slower in Iowa than in other states.—
Cami Koons,
Iowa Capital Dispatch,
5 Feb. 2026
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Measles-vaccination rates have been steadily declining for several years; since last January, the country has logged its two largest measles epidemics in more than three decades.—
Katherine J. Wu,
The Atlantic,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That legacy hasn’t disappeared, but it is increasingly strained under the weight of rising needs and shrinking staff capacity.—
Patrick Mahoney,
Sun Sentinel,
1 Feb. 2026
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But shares in open float have been shrinking.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The 83-year-old senator has had multiple health issues over the past few years, including publicly freezing during a press conference in 2023 and falling ahead of a Senate vote in October 2025.—
Lillian Metzmeier,
Louisville Courier Journal,
4 Feb. 2026
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Among the videos, prosecutors wrote, is one that shows the bullet hitting Kirk, blood coming from his neck and Kirk falling from his chair.—
Matthew Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decreasing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decreasing. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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