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decrease

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noun

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of decrease
Verb
As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases. Kansas City Star Weather Bot, Kansas City Star, 11 Aug. 2025 Be sure to cook salmon skin before eating to decrease your risk of foodborne illness.14 How to cook it: Salmon skin is often seared, grilled, or pan-fried with the salmon flesh. Sarah Anzlovar, Verywell Health, 11 Aug. 2025
Noun
This includes a 12 percent dip in homicides, a 28 percent decrease in robbery and a 20 percent drop in assault with dangerous weapons. Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Aug. 2025 Washington recently saw murders spike, then drop The Metropolitan Police Department reported a 35% drop in violent crime and a 15% decrease in overall crime from 2023 to 2024. Erin Mansfield, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for decrease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decrease
Verb
  • Over the past year, the co-CEOs have executed a plan to shave off $500 million in costs, sell off assets and reduce a workforce by more than 15 percent as Paramount shifts ownership.
    Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 7 Aug. 2025
  • Those fine particles can stick together tightly, reducing pore space for water to move through or percolate.
    Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Rather than diminishing us, this should decentralize our ego.
    Dax Grant, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025
  • Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 13 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • The program also faces a 25% reduction in official recruiting visits during the upcoming season and a 14-week prohibition on football recruiting communications during its four-year probation period.
    Larry Lage, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2025
  • However, there are some misgivings about what happens from there, with 55% odds of another reduction in October and just a 43% probability of a third move in December, according to the CME Group's FedWatch.
    Jeff Cox, CNBC, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The furor has subsided, possibly because districts are adapting to such stringent state laws as House Bill 1467, which required districts to create a public, searchable online list of elementary school materials.
    Orlando Sentinel, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Aug. 2025
  • Stewart was celebrated as a hero — and interviewed by the likes of CNN and the BBC — before interest in the story initially subsided.
    Susan Young, People.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Disney’s entertainment division had revenue of $10.7 billion, up 1 percent, and operating income of $1 billion, down 15 percent, due to declines in the linear TV networks, offset by the growth in streaming and some improvements in content licensing.
    Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2025
  • The decline comes as the measles outbreak continues to grow, sickening more people than at any time since it was declared eliminated.
    Amy Feldman, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • But, if wages don’t rise to match those jumps, consumer spending could fall and slow the economy.
    Raul Elizalde, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025
  • Yet the pre-tariff prices of imports haven’t fallen much since the levies were put in place.
    Christopher Rugaber, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Try enjoying your favorite tea variety—such as black, jasmine, or green tea—with a few drops of honey for a bit of sweetness.
    Samantha Lauriello, Health, 6 Aug. 2025
  • Rates in murder and non-negligent manslaughter saw the biggest drop among the four categories, and is the lowest rate in nine years.
    Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Offering pet benefits is a remote-friendly option that can not only support employee well-being but also ease the financial pressures of modern pet ownership that all generations face.
    Cerys Goodall, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025
  • On Monday, Trump announced an extraordinary deal for the U.S. government to take a 15% share of Nvidia's H20 chip sales in China as a condition for easing restrictions to allow the chip to be sold there.
    Maria Aspan, NPR, 14 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Decrease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decrease. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

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