Synonyms of decrease

decrease 1 of 2

verb

di-ˈkrēs 

1

as in to reduce

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

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

2

as in to diminish

to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually

the force of the wind slowly decreased until the flowers were standing upright again

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

decrease

2 of 2

noun

ˈdē-ˌkrēs 

as in reduction

the amount by which something is lessened

the average decrease in the price of milk was five cents per gallon

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reduction
• decline
• drop
• dent
• diminution
• depletion
• shrinkage
• decrement
• loss
• slump
• abatement
• diminishment
• fall
• depression
• falloff
• drop-off
• subtraction
• step-down
• deduction
• cut
• downturn
• shortening
• slip
• cutback
• curtailment
• retrenchment

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• increase
• gain
• rise
• increment
• boost
• raise
• enlargement
• addition
• accumulation
• supplement
• extension
• accrual
• continuation
• accretion
• step-up
• uptick
• upturn
• upswing
• uptrend

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb decrease differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of decrease are abate, diminish, dwindle, lessen, and reduce. While all these words mean "to grow or make less," decrease suggests a progressive decline in size, amount, numbers, or intensity.

slowly decreased the amount of pressure

When would abate be a good substitute for decrease?

The meanings of abate and decrease largely overlap; however, abate implies a reducing of something excessive or oppressive in force or amount.

the storm abated

When could diminish be used to replace decrease?

While the synonyms diminish and decrease are close in meaning, diminish emphasizes a perceptible loss and implies its subtraction from a total.

his visual acuity has diminished

When can dwindle be used instead of decrease?

Although the words dwindle and decrease have much in common, dwindle implies progressive lessening and is applied to things growing visibly smaller.

their provisions dwindled slowly

When is it sensible to use lessen instead of decrease?

The words lessen and decrease can be used in similar contexts, but lessen suggests a decline in amount rather than in number.

has been unable to lessen her debt

When might reduce be a better fit than decrease?

While in some cases nearly identical to decrease, reduce implies a bringing down or lowering.

you must reduce your caloric intake

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of decrease

Verb

John Feinblatt, president of the advocacy group Everytown for Gun Safety, said doing that would decrease safety. —CBS News, 1 May 2026

Martínez is still that free swinger at heart, but his whiff rate has decreased. —Zack Meisel, New York Times, 1 May 2026

Noun

Some experts worry the overall decrease in homework could be a problem for math achievement, at a time when math scores across the country are already at a dismal low. —Ariel Gilreath, NPR, 28 Apr. 2026

The total cost of pensions may not necessarily decrease as the contribution rate decreases because the state’s payroll costs are likely to increase in the coming years. —William Melhado, Sacbee.com, 28 Apr. 2026