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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb diminish differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of diminish are abate, decrease, dwindle, lessen, and reduce. While all these words mean "to grow or make less," diminish emphasizes a perceptible loss and implies its subtraction from a total.

his visual acuity has diminished

When is abate a more appropriate choice than diminish?

In some situations, the words abate and diminish are roughly equivalent. However, abate implies a reducing of something excessive or oppressive in force or amount.

the storm abated

When would decrease be a good substitute for diminish?

While the synonyms decrease and diminish are close in meaning, decrease suggests a progressive decline in size, amount, numbers, or intensity.

slowly decreased the amount of pressure

Where would dwindle be a reasonable alternative to diminish?

The meanings of dwindle and diminish largely overlap; however, dwindle implies progressive lessening and is applied to things growing visibly smaller.

their provisions dwindled slowly

In what contexts can lessen take the place of diminish?

While in some cases nearly identical to diminish, lessen suggests a decline in amount rather than in number.

has been unable to lessen her debt

When could reduce be used to replace diminish?

The synonyms reduce and diminish are sometimes interchangeable, but reduce implies a bringing down or lowering.

you must reduce your caloric intake

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 diminish Greatest impacts will likely be felt early Tuesday morning into Tuesday afternoon with the threat diminishing near sunset Tuesday as the winds decrease. Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 10 Nov. 2025 Small and fragmented burns, what Roos calls a mosaic of fire, could be more effective at diminishing risk and buffering the effects of climate than bigger, cohesive prescribed burns. Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 9 Nov. 2025 The fall of Pokrovsk – the strategic value of which has already been greatly diminished, but which would nevertheless represent the biggest win for Moscow since 2023 – now seems almost inevitable, according to those on the ground. Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025 Business leaders say that such policies risk accelerating an exodus of companies, diminishing the city’s commercial tax base, and ultimately affecting services and jobs essential to millions of New Yorkers. Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for diminish
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diminish
Verb
  • Act quickly to keep the stain from setting and to minimize the damage.
    Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 11 Nov. 2025
  • Advanced hull geometry, radar-absorbing coatings, and an electronic degaussing system minimize magnetic and electric signatures.
    Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Tax rises would likely act as another damper on inflation by reducing consumer demand.
    Holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2025
  • 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
  • This can reduce dependence on critical raw materials, lower costs, decrease carbon emissions, and ultimately make sustainable technologies more reliable and accessible in everyday life, as per the release.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2025
  • The trend, Morales said, should come as a giant, blinking warning sign for Republicans, who ran in 2024 on promises to decrease inflation and improve the cost of living for everyday Americans.
    Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • On Wednesday, in documents obtained by Rolling Stone, a California superior court judge overseeing the lawsuit ruled in favor of Kardashian and the anti-SLAPP motion, effectively dismissing the other Cantu’s lawsuit, though the judge left open the possibility of an appeal.
    Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2025
  • This company’s approach to pest control begins with a philosophy that dismisses the business-as-usual assumptions.
    Malana VanTyler, USA Today, 6 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • 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
Verb
  • In a social media video, Madi said her father's health declined in the months following an early-stage prostate cancer diagnosis.
    Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025
  • The Administration submitted an emergency filing to the Supreme Court after an appeals court declined to block the injunction.
    Chad de Guzman, Time, 7 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Diminish.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diminish. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.

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