Thesaurus

decrease

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of decrease

the amount by which something is lessened

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

Synonyms of decrease

abatement, decline, decrement, dent, depletion, depression, diminishment, diminution, drop, drop-off, fall, falloff, loss, reduction, shrinkage, step-down

Words Related to decrease

deduction, subtraction

downturn, slip, slump

curtailment, cut, cutback, retrenchment, shortening

Near Antonyms of decrease

accretion, accrual, accumulation, addition, supplement

continuation, extension

upswing, uptrend, upturn

Antonyms of decrease

boost, enlargement, gain, increase, increment, raise, rise, step-up, uptick

decrease

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of decrease

1 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 of decrease

abate, de-escalate, dent, deplete, diminish, downscale, downsize, drop, dwindle, ease, knock down, lessen, lower, reduce

Words Related to decrease

compress, condense, constrict, contract

abbreviate, abridge, clip, crop, curtail, cut, cut back, cut down, dock, nick, pare, prune, retrench, shorten, slash, trim, truncate, whittle

deflate, shrink

moderate, modify, modulate, qualify

Near Antonyms of decrease

blow up, dilate, distend, inflate, swell

elongate, extend, lengthen, prolong, protract

add (to), complement, supplement

enhance, heighten, intensify

Antonyms of decrease

aggrandize, amplify, augment, boost, enlarge, escalate, expand, increase, raise

2 to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually

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

Synonyms of decrease

abate, decline, de-escalate, die (away or down or out), diminish, drain (away), drop (off), dwindle, ease, ebb, fall, fall away, lessen, let up, lower, moderate, pall, phase down, ratchet (down) also rachet (down) , recede, relent, remit, shrink, subside, taper, taper off, wane

Words Related to decrease

compress, condense, constrict, contract

evaporate, fade (away), fritter (away), give out, melt (away), peter (out), tail (off), vanish

slacken, slow (down)

alleviate, relax

flag, sink, weaken

cave (in), collapse, deflate

Near Antonyms of decrease

appear, emerge, show up

blow up, distend, elongate, lengthen

Antonyms of decrease

accumulate, balloon, build, burgeon (also bourgeon), enlarge, escalate, expand, grow, increase, intensify, mount, mushroom, pick up, rise, snowball, soar, swell, wax

Synonym Discussion of decrease

decrease, lessen, diminish, reduce, abate, dwindle mean to grow or make less. decrease suggests a progressive decline in size, amount, numbers, or intensity.

- slowly decreased the amount of pressure

lessen suggests a decline in amount rather than in number.

- has been unable to lessen her debt

diminish emphasizes a perceptible loss and implies its subtraction from a total.

- his visual acuity has diminished

reduce implies a bringing down or lowering.

- you must reduce your caloric intake

abate implies a reducing of something excessive or oppressive in force or amount.

- the storm abated

dwindle implies progressive lessening and is applied to things growing visibly smaller.

- their provisions dwindled slowly

Learn More about decrease

Dictionary: Definition of decrease Spanish Central: Translation of decrease Nglish: Translation of decrease for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of decrease for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up decrease? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments

WORD OF THE DAY

gritty

showing courage and determination