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

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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

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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

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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

This risk decreases as the storm moves away. — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 29 June 2026 Eat plenty of fiber, which aids digestion and decreases your risk. — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 7 July 2026 Because gold is sold globally in dollars, a strong greenback makes gold more expensive for international buyers and decreases demand. — Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 29 June 2026 As greenhouse gases cool and shrink this upper atmospheric region, atmospheric drag decreases. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 6 July 2026 Saving money on inventory is counterproductive if the service level to customers decreases. — Steve Banker, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 The fund, which currently sits at about $325 million, is meant to help maintain provider rates if the federal government decreases its share of Medicaid expenditures. — Jillian Taylor, StateImpact, 30 June 2026 Health officials declined to identify the facilities or to specify reasons, other than saying that the long-term care industry opens facilities and increases or decreases beds based on business factors. — Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 5 July 2026 Previous research has demonstrated that direct exposure to nature significantly reduces physiological stress, lowers heart rates and decreases levels of stress hormones, like cortisol. — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026

Noun

However, this group saw meaningful decreases as well, falling from 73% in 2021 to 61% in 2025. — ABC News, 18 June 2026 Local law enforcement have touted recent decreases in crime on the CTA in particular, which beefed up security staffing in December and again in March. — Talia Soglin, Chicago Tribune, 25 June 2026 And Egypt’s Mohamed Salah’s tenure as a Liverpool player coincided with significant decreases in anti-Muslim hate crimes across the city. — Jeremy Ebobisse, Time, 26 June 2026 In the San Francisco Bay Area, for example, wealthy urban counties had decreases in cancer rates that substantially exceeded the national rate of 34%. — Arthur Cosby, Fortune, 23 June 2026 The number of condos available dropped by nearly 9%, an improvement from the April year-over-year comparison, but marking the fourth consecutive month of decreases since July 2023. — Alexandra Phelps, Miami Herald, 18 June 2026 Anyone who has spent a career in and around tech will be aware of Moore's Law—the phenomenon observed by Gordon Moore in the 1960s that, as computing power increases, its cost decreases. — Rupert Lee-Browne, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026 Simon said places like El Paso, Texas, and Orlando, Florida, have seen decreases thanks to a focus on a complete streets policy, which prioritizes safety for all modes of transportation. — Dj Simmons june 23, Charlotte Observer, 23 June 2026 Provides Anti-Inflammatory Effects Research indicates that the long-term use (8 weeks) of kefir was linked with decreases in inflammatory biomarkers, such as C-reactive protein, which impact heart health. — Anna Giorgi, Verywell Health, 29 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for decreases

Verb

Good posture helps prevent aches in the back, neck and shoulders, reduces joint wear and lowers the risk of sports injuries, according to Cleveland Clinic.

— Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 1 July 2026
Skipping the stove and oven also reduces indoor heat, so lean on cold sandwiches, salads and no-cook meals during the worst hours.

— Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 1 July 2026

Definition of reduces

Noun

Voltage reductions were also happening earlier in the day in parts of Staten Island, Queens, the Bronx, Brooklyn and Westchester, Con Edison spokesperson Jamie McShane told CNN.

— Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
On the other hand, massive reductions in the number of incoming immigrants do not increase such jobs.

— Robert Hormats, Time, 4 July 2026

Definition of reductions

Verb

After the laughter ringing through the room subsides, though, Abela does allow for a moment of reverence — for the HBO drama if not for the disreputable people who populate it.

— Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 17 June 2026
Then the climax subsides for a lovely coda of strings, accompanied by a denouement in which the now casually clad, contemporary-looking singer smashes up her play set in the apartment where she’s presumably been brooding over all this stuff.

— Chris Willman, Variety, 22 May 2026

Definition of subsides

Noun

But between increasingly stiff anti-smoking legislation and very real declines in volumes for years, some investors have given up the industry—and Altria—for dead.

— Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
However, this robust growth was belied by declines in median wealth in most of the 56 markets monitored by UBS, pointing to a growing wealth gap.

— Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 2 July 2026

Definition of declines

Noun

Several northbound lanes of I-5 were closed north of Templin Highway as fire vehicles staged on the highway and multiple firefighting helicopters performed water drops from above, according to social media posts from the Angeles National Forest.

— Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
In between the magnums of rosé that were flowing, main sponsor Starbucks kept the energy up all weekend with exclusive drink drops.

— Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 6 July 2026

Definition of drops

Verb

Still, Beijing is betting billions of dollars on humanoid robots as a strategic technology that could increase productivity as economic growth slows and its workforce shrinks.

— John Liu, CNN Money, 30 June 2026
Under sustained acceleration, leadership teams frequently start operating within more compressed decision cycles where immediate demands dominate attention and time for reflection gradually shrinks.

— ByPaul L. Gunn, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026

Definition of shrinks

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“Decreases.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decreases. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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noun

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