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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in reduction
the amount by which something is lessened
the average decrease in the price of milk was five cents per gallon
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of decrease
Austin Corona, AZCentral.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Lake Tefé’s surface area decreased by 75%, while another lake, Badajós, shrunk by 92%.
—Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Katherine Fung, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, touted the decrease in fuel costs, with the national average flirting with the $3-per-gallon price point.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decrease
Verb
As Arizona squeezes more money from its decreasing share of river water, freighting every drop with critical industries and a booming housing market, the price of water is bound to keep climbing.
—Austin Corona, AZCentral.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Lake Tefé’s surface area decreased by 75%, while another lake, Badajós, shrunk by 92%.
—Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
The ranking welcomed two new additions from the textile and apparel manufacturing sector—Fruit of the Loom and Steve Madden —but as a whole, the industry saw a nearly 43 percent decrease in representation from last year’s ranking.
—Katherine Fung, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, touted the decrease in fuel costs, with the national average flirting with the $3-per-gallon price point.
—Washington Examiner Staff, The Washington Examiner, 4 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decrease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decrease
Verb
-
Tax rises would likely act as another damper on inflation by reducing consumer demand.—
Holly Ellyatt,
CNBC,
6 Nov. 2025
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Researchers also stressed that the synergistic effect of K+ and C3N4 co-intercalation lowers the energy barrier, reduces the electrostatic interaction, and enhances the kinetics and structural stability.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Not to diminish, but anybody can create their own AI characters, right?—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
11 Nov. 2025
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The institutions built to prevent such suffering are straining under the weight of geopolitical rivalries, eroding trust, and diminishing political will.—
ARIF HUSAIN,
Foreign Affairs,
11 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The Federal Aviation Administration on Friday ordered a reduction in flights due to stress on unpaid air traffic controllers.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Local travelers still will most likely continue to see impacts at MCI, as 32 of the 40 airports on the FAA reduction list are severed nonstop from MCI by passenger airlines, a spokesman for the Kansas City Aviation Department said last week.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Conditions may be chaotic right now, Finck said, but fashion purveyors are starting to think about what happens after the market turbulence subsides.—
Jasmin Malik Chua,
Sourcing Journal,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Officials downgraded the alert after fears of more significant waves subsided, but maintained ongoing advisories regarding caution and aftershocks.—
Hollie Silverman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
Noun
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However, the league is looking to its next steps to after the 2025 season saw a 5% decline in game attendance, according to Sports Business Journal.—
Jessica Golden,
CNBC,
6 Nov. 2025
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But their party went into swift decline during the Cold War that began in the late 1940s and barely exists today.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Two things happened on that blustery back-to-school morning that fell exactly a month after my eleventh birthday.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
10 Nov. 2025
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Midway through the third quarter, true freshman linebacker Mason Posa, buried on the depth chart just weeks ago, ripped the ball loose at Washington’s 7-yard line and fell on it himself.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
As Arizona squeezes more money from its decreasing share of river water, freighting every drop with critical industries and a booming housing market, the price of water is bound to keep climbing.—
Austin Corona,
AZCentral.com,
6 Nov. 2025
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To remove rust, sprinkle a bit of Bar Keepers Friend or baking soda over the affected area, add a drop of water to create a paste, and gently scrub with a soft sponge.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Ending the government shutdown would ease the situation for controllers, but the FAA said the flight cuts will remain in place until their safety data improves.—
JOSH FUNK,
Arkansas Online,
8 Nov. 2025
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This spray aims to prevent breakage and ease tension during the braid takedown process by adding softness so hair can easily slide through knots and detangle much faster.—
Caché McClay,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decrease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decrease. Accessed 20 Nov. 2025.
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