1
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
2
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
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
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Recent Examples of decreases
Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 7 Apr. 2026
As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 5 Apr. 2026
This risk decreases as the storm moves away.
—Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Apr. 2026
As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026
This slightly decreases the total mass of objects in interplanetary space — the material and space between planets — while slightly increasing the masses of the planets themselves.
—Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Hand-washing decreases the chance of a respiratory infection by 16% to 21%.
—Kyle B. Enfield, The Conversation, 28 Mar. 2026
Back then, travel bans and lockdowns led to sharp, worldwide decreases in driving and flying.
—Camila Domonoske, NPR, 27 Mar. 2026
By Friday morning, the severe threat should largely end as storms move east and instability decreases.
—Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2026
Most of the severe declines happened in rural areas, although urban counties like San Francisco and Los Angeles also saw decreases.
—Kristen Hwang, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2026
But criminologists and crime analysts say these decreases are likely the result of a mix of demographic and technology shifts, not just policy changes.
—Stella Canino-Quinones, Baltimore Sun, 3 Apr. 2026
Though this change in 1998 led to overall decreases in NTDs, some populations, including Hispanic infants, still suffer from disproportionately high rates.
—Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
By the third or fourth week, puppies begin transitioning to solid food, and their urge to nurse decreases.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Many hundreds of millions of public and philanthropic dollars have been flowing into CVI (although The Free Press story feels dated to us, in terms of the significant recent decreases in federal and state funds applied to these initiatives).
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
The years since have seen decreases in the number of overdose deaths.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2026
And the atmosphere’s thickness increases and decreases with solar activity.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
Water is one of the best inclusions to have in a hardscape plan for its soothing sound that also improves the air quality by releasing negative ions in the air that decreases pollutants.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 7 Apr. 2026
As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 5 Apr. 2026
This risk decreases as the storm moves away.
—Star-Telegram Weather Bot, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Apr. 2026
As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026
This slightly decreases the total mass of objects in interplanetary space — the material and space between planets — while slightly increasing the masses of the planets themselves.
—Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Hand-washing decreases the chance of a respiratory infection by 16% to 21%.
—Kyle B. Enfield, The Conversation, 28 Mar. 2026
Back then, travel bans and lockdowns led to sharp, worldwide decreases in driving and flying.
—Camila Domonoske, NPR, 27 Mar. 2026
By Friday morning, the severe threat should largely end as storms move east and instability decreases.
—Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
Property valuations can vary, and that means homeowners typically see a range of increases or decreases in their tax statements.
—Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 5 Apr. 2026
Most of the severe declines happened in rural areas, although urban counties like San Francisco and Los Angeles also saw decreases.
—Kristen Hwang, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2026
But criminologists and crime analysts say these decreases are likely the result of a mix of demographic and technology shifts, not just policy changes.
—Stella Canino-Quinones, Baltimore Sun, 3 Apr. 2026
Though this change in 1998 led to overall decreases in NTDs, some populations, including Hispanic infants, still suffer from disproportionately high rates.
—Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026
By the third or fourth week, puppies begin transitioning to solid food, and their urge to nurse decreases.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026
Many hundreds of millions of public and philanthropic dollars have been flowing into CVI (although The Free Press story feels dated to us, in terms of the significant recent decreases in federal and state funds applied to these initiatives).
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
The years since have seen decreases in the number of overdose deaths.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2026
And the atmosphere’s thickness increases and decreases with solar activity.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decreases
Verb
-
Acidification reduces the pH of seawater, which also diminishes sound absorption, so the stain of ship’s engine noise spreads further, muffling the songs of humpbacks and the codas of sperm whales.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
9 Apr. 2026
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Each option reduces overall productivity, cutting supplies of basic foods, feed for livestock and key ingredients used in a wide range of food products.—
Aya S. Chacar,
Fortune,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The lack of marbling, fat, and bone diminishes the beefy taste of these cuts.—
Sheena Chihak,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The system also offers the potential for major cost reductions compared to other photoreforming approaches, as the reusable acid boosts hydrogen production rates.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Advocates warn the reductions could disrupt or cancel dozens of missions spanning planetary science, astrophysics and Earth observation — areas overseen by NASA's Science Mission Directorate.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Fundamental advantages remain Analysts, however, remain cautiously optimistic if the conflict subsides within weeks.—
John Liu,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2026
-
As the furor over the October 7th attack and the Gaza war subsides, such gatherings have become easier to organize, several Beth El members told me.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The Northeast and the Midwest have the highest density of college campuses but will also see some of the biggest declines in the number of high-school graduates by the 2040s.—
Jeffrey Selingo,
The Atlantic,
12 Apr. 2026
-
However, the brand has seen month-on-month declines in sales since September 2025, pointing to weakening momentum in its core NEV lineup.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Grapevine surges from behind, falls short Lake Creek provided most of the pressure early in the match, keeping the ball in Grapevine’s end and getting off six shots before the Mustangs started pressing in the 26th minute.—
Charles Baggarly & Darren Lauber,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Apr. 2026
-
The Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, once an aristocratic mansion, falls somewhere between the avant-garde works at the Reina Sofia and the traditional Spanish art at the Prado.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The first three months of the year saw disparate trends in violence within the Chicago Police Department’s five patrol areas, records show, with a mixed bag of increases and further drops.—
Sam Charles,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The morning began with moderate losses for Wall Street following drops for Asian and European stocks.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Miniature Wife Elizabeth Banks and Matthew Macfadyen star in this dramedy about an egocentric scientist on the verge of a breakthrough who accidentally shrinks his wife, a Pulitzer-winning author who hasn’t written a lick in more than a decade.—
Rebecca Aizin,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
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As the labor force shrinks, economic output and tax revenues may contract while demand for pensions, healthcare, and social security rises—a financial burden that will be borne by an increasingly smaller workforce.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decreases.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decreases. Accessed 14 Apr. 2026.
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