Synonyms of diminish

diminish

verb

də-ˈmi-nish 

1

as in to minimize

to express scornfully one's low opinion of

tends to diminish any rival's accomplishments with snide remarks

Synonyms & Similar Words

• minimize
• dismiss
• denigrate
• disparage
• derogate
• criticize
• belittle
• depreciate
• deprecate
• decry
• discount
• talk down
• run down
• write off
• dump on
• denounce
• dislike
• play down
• diss
• condemn
• discredit
• cry down
• bad-mouth
• poor-mouth
• dis
• put down
• trash-talk
• vilipend
• scold
• trash
• kiss off
• disapprove (of)
• abuse
• malign
• vilify
• defame
• disgrace
• discommend
• slander
• censure
• traduce
• reprehend
• rip
• slur
• asperse
• reprobate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• magnify
• exalt
• applaud
• glorify
• praise
• extol
• approve
• laud
• recommend
• favor
• endorse
• acclaim
• sanction
• indorse
• countenance
• extoll
• commend
• compliment
• eulogize

2

as in to reduce

to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent

the state's blood supplies were severely diminished by the two consecutive disasters

Synonyms & Similar Words

• reduce
• decrease
• deplete
• lessen
• minimize
• lower
• ease
• dwindle
• abate
• downsize
• dent
• cut
• slash
• knock down
• drop
• compress
• shrink
• shorten
• downscale
• de-escalate
• curtail
• constrict
• cut down
• abridge
• pare
• truncate
• condense
• cut back
• trim
• modify
• retrench
• abbreviate
• prune
• whittle
• modulate
• deflate
• contract
• dock
• crop
• nick
• moderate
• clip
• qualify

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• increase
• expand
• augment
• enlarge
• raise
• amplify
• boost
• escalate
• extend
• swell
• prolong
• inflate
• lengthen
• dilate
• enhance
• add (to)
• blow up
• complement
• aggrandize
• supplement
• intensify
• elongate
• heighten
• distend
• protract
• redouble

3

as in to decrease

to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually

the sound of the train diminished as our distance from it increased

Synonyms & Similar Words

• decrease
• subside
• decline
• shrink
• fall
• ease
• vanish
• lessen
• recede
• dwindle
• ebb
• moderate
• wane
• weaken
• drop (off)
• die (away or down or out)
• fall away
• drain (away)
• abate
• taper
• relent
• lower
• taper off
• evaporate
• pall
• remit
• let up
• phase down
• ratchet (down)
• de-escalate
• rachet (down)
• alleviate
• constrict
• compress
• collapse
• fade (away)
• tail (off)
• slow (down)
• slacken
• condense
• relax
• melt (away)
• contract
• give out
• peter (out)
• fritter (away)
• deflate
• sink
• cave (in)
• flag

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• increase
• grow
• intensify
• rise
• expand
• build
• accumulate
• enlarge
• escalate
• swell
• soar
• appear
• mount
• pick up
• emerge
• snowball
• wax
• mushroom
• balloon
• show up
• burgeon
• lengthen
• bourgeon
• elongate
• distend
• blow up

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

Recent Examples of diminish

That's left women's health care in the hands of a diminishing number of women. —NPR, 14 Oct. 2025

Witkoff’s role was, until this recent success over Gaza, diminished. —Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 14 Oct. 2025

What’s more, any achievement that Israel can point to in Gaza, in terms of diminishing Hamas’s fighting capabilities and damaging its tunnel network, happened months ago. —Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2025

The federal determination highlights how permitting males to compete on female teams displaces female athletes from podiums, denies them advancement opportunities, and diminishes their visibility and recognition in competitions. —Jackson Thompson, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2025