DECREASES Synonyms: 159 Similar and Opposite Words

decreases 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of decrease

as in reduces

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in diminishes

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

decreases

2 of 2

noun

plural of decrease

as in reductions

the amount by which something is lessened the average decrease in the price of milk was five cents per gallon

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 decreases

Verb

Humidity falls throughout the day on Friday and decreases through Saturday morning. — Rachael Jay, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026 The rate gradually decreases at higher incomes and phases out at $53,250. — Bydavid Schepp, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Sep. 2026 Cooking decreases some of the sugars in corn, such as glucose, fructose, and maltose. — Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 3 Sep. 2026 Traffic on Guanella Pass also decreases significantly Monday through Thursday compared to weekends, Fulton said. — Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 3 Sep. 2026 Fertility in women decreases gradually but significantly at age 32 and rapidly after 37, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. — Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026 While passengers often remain seated for hours at a time, crew spend the majority of the flight on their feet, which decreases their chances of stiffness. — Sophia Dyer, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Aug. 2026 When employees actively participate in shaping the policies that govern their day-to-day experience, engagement rises and turnover decreases. — Julie Kratz, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026 Eventually, the plants become woody in the center, and the number of blooms decreases. — Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026

Noun

The bill also gives some legal protection for school districts against financial penalties if their arts funding decreases as a result of factors beyond their control, such as the expiration of a grant. — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026 The district reported decreases in the number of students who are low-income, English language learners or in temporary living situations. — Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026 The results are splendid when the duo is dealing, but when the line comes off the ice, the quality of play decreases. — Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 But the city’s overall revenue growth is expected to be offset by decreases in property taxes and state marijuana share-back revenue. — Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 10 Sep. 2026 And these startling figures do not reflect the food crises that could be unleashed this year by rising energy and fertilizer prices, decreases in grain exports from Russia and Ukraine, and an intensifying El Niño weather pattern. — Anna Nelson, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2026 The production of only eumelanin decreases in hot, dry regions, resulting in reddish body coloration, whereas the production of both types of melanin is reduced in very cold regions, resulting in pale body coloration. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026 Some early studies are showing that people using AI chatbots designed with cognitive behavior therapy principles experienced decreases in symptoms of anxiety and depression, according to psychologists. — Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026 In the Phase 2 TRANQUILITY study, the drug, pacibekitug, led to sustained decreases in biomarkers of inflammation, according to results presented Saturday at the European Society of Cardiology’s annual meeting in Munich. — Andrew Joseph, STAT, 29 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for decreases

Verb

This creates a cleaner edge, makes mowing easier, and reduces competition between the tree and turf.

— Tricia Goss, Southern Living, 28 Sep. 2026
The plan also reduces investment in Central Maryland transit by approximately $360 million, or 12%, while shrinking the Baltimore region’s share of statewide transit investment from 34% to 30%.

— Brian O'Malley, Baltimore Sun, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of reduces

Verb

The impressive density of this overload, which embraces the possibilities of relatively new technology to find novel ways to deliver and compress context, diminishes as Carter is drawn to Japan by Izumi Adachi (Kiko Mizuhara).

— Vadim Rizov, Variety, 19 Sep. 2026
The governor’s effective yield to Harris diminishes the possibility of a showdown between two of California’s most powerful political figures in an election whose stakes are viewed by the Democratic Party as existential.

— Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of diminishes

Verb

Chadchart said despite the heavy rain, flooding should recede once the rain subsides, as city officials are working to drain floodwaters as quickly as possible.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026
Ideally, those refugees would remain in human care for years or even decades until the mussel invasion subsides.

— CBS News, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of subsides

Noun

This year’s drought across western Japan, with some meteorologists comparing it to the country’s worst drought in more than 30 years, is already being tied to yield declines in official data.

— Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026
Nike – Shares for the athletic apparel company slid nearly 2% after Bank of America downgraded the company to underperform from neutral, expecting sales declines from the second quarter through the rest of fiscal 2027.

— Ananya Chetia, CNBC, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of declines

Verb

Because every moment is narrated in Ugandan Sign Language and International Sign, Deaf travelers are more deeply immersed in the experience, and a welcome hush falls over the environment—which is, surprise, appreciated by the wildlife too.

— CNT Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026
However, the salt can solidify if its temperature falls too close to its freezing point.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2026

Definition of falls

Noun

Swift drops clues in all manners and the Swifties almost always unearth the meaning behind them.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 28 Sep. 2026
With 41% of Americans still defaulting to hot, watch for whether that share drops as energy costs rise and cold-water messaging from brands and utilities increases.

— Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 28 Sep. 2026