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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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

In addition, insulin sensitivity — or how effectively the body responds to the hormone insulin — also generally decreases at night. — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 9 Oct. 2026 The drink—also known simply as beet juice—decreases inflammation and is rich in nitrates, which help relax blood vessels and allow blood to flow more freely. — Christina Manian, HEALTH, 7 Oct. 2026 Greek yogurt goes through a straining process that doubles the amount of protein and decreases the amount of sugar compared to regular yogurt. — Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026 The front finally moves through on Friday, but some heavy rain will still be possible early, before the chance of rain decreases into the weekend. — Michael Autovino, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026 The Nebraska researchers also found that hafnia becomes more stable as its thickness decreases. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2026 Of course, that age range decreases in areas where mule deer hunting is less restricted. — Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 24 Sep. 2026 When those foundations are set, AI decreases the number of touches per invoice, increases real-time visibility and provides controls that can scale with transaction volume. — John Gronen, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026 The polar vortex naturally develops during late summer and fall as sunlight decreases over the Arctic and the stratosphere begins to cool. — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026

Noun

Even with efforts to provide additional access to harm-reduction protections, escalating criminal penalties have not produced the treatment gains or decreases in overdose deaths in Colorado that proponents promised. — Joshua Barocas, The Conversation, 16 Oct. 2026 When evidence is incomplete or when confidence decreases and risk increases, autonomy should be reduced and the human boundary tightened. — Asaf Wiener, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026 With the latest decreases in cotton prices, a divergence has emerged with the oil market. — Sj Guest Editorial, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2026 Although Kentucky and Oklahoma exhibited decreases in relative Democratic turnout, more people voted in 2026 Democratic primaries than 2022 Democratic primaries in those states. — ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026 The average gas price dropped a few cents a gallon in South Florida this week after double-digit decreases last week. — Miami Herald Staff Report, Miami Herald, 12 Oct. 2026 However, the city remains on track to record its fourth straight year of double-digit percentage decreases. — Baltimore Sun Staff, Baltimore Sun, 12 Oct. 2026 Separately, several research groups are exploring whether heat can help treat depression, building on a landmark study that showed meaningful decreases in symptoms after one session in a special infrared machine. — Will Stone, NPR, 11 Oct. 2026 The decreases come as the CTA boosted law enforcement on the system at the federal government’s behest, a move that threatened to withhold funding from the transit agency after last year’s Blue Line attack. — Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for decreases

Verb

This reduces the turbulence around the suspension and in the trailer’s wake, and lowers the aerodynamic drag.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 20 Oct. 2026
There are studies suggesting that being on a regular training regimen reduces your risk of cancer recurrence.

— Samantha Ciaccia, Glamour, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of reduces

Verb

Pyrad works by instantaneously thickening when exposed to fire, forming a char that diminishes heat exposure, extinguishes flames, and decreases the risk of third-degree burns.

— Derek Rose, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
By effectively raising the threshold in the playoffs, the NFL acknowledges that over-officiating diminishes the product and that marginal penalties should not decide its most important games.

— Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of diminishes

Noun

Yet their willingness to talk, listen, and imagine what had seemed impossible helped lay the groundwork for historic nuclear arms reductions.

— Halla Tómasdóttir, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
Beere credited the reductions in part to the department's Ceasefire strategy, which focuses on preventing violence, and stronger partnerships with community members.

— Da Lin, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of reductions

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

Things already had been tough internally amid the engagement challenges hurting Netflix’s stock as high-profile series had not performed to expectations and most returning shows have seen viewership declines season-to-season over the past year.

— Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
Sarandos told investors in July that such declines are typical and that second season falloff is slightly improved this year.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of declines

Verb

The January 16, 2027 slot once again falls the day after the end of nomination voting in the Academy Awards on January 15, and before the January 21 nominations announcement.

— Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2026
As night falls, Kenny and Christina are over the moon about their trip.

— Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of falls

Noun

Her eye doctor said over-the-counter drops weren’t addressing the inflammation underneath.

— Samantha Agate, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Designed by Martin Katz, the bra featured nearly 3,900 gemstones, including two black diamond drops and 120 round white diamonds, with a total weight of 1,500 carats.

— Amanda Le, InStyle, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of drops

Verb

That offset shrinks to only 38mm when installing a 280mm radiator kit.

— Thomas Soderstrom, PC Magazine, 10 Oct. 2026
Since rates are computed by dividing the number of cases by the population at risk in a specified time period, then by definition, if the number of cases stays the same but the size of the denominator shrinks, the rates will be higher.

— Nancy Krieger, STAT, 9 Oct. 2026