as in reducing
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1
as in minimizing
to express scornfully one's low opinion of
tends to diminish any rival's accomplishments with snide remarks
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decreasing
to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent
the state's blood supplies were severely diminished by the two consecutive disasters
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in subsiding
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually
the sound of the train diminished as our distance from it increased
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of diminishing
Paris Barraza, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Spring-Flowering Trees To avoid removing flower buds and diminishing—or halting entirely—the annual floral show, wait to prune trees that bloom before July until they are done flowering.
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 May 2026
Arsenal had lost the game, and yet another chunk of their diminishing lead in the table.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Consolidation of power This diminishing of the role of the presidency and political legitimacy forms the background to any questions of succession now.
—Roxane Razavi, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026
Based on the diminishing returns of the Reading Challenge over the years (at this point, the Library needs to be shut down and defunded.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 28 Mar. 2026
Pollsters began noting diminishing approval for LGBTQ legal protections.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
But its premise never evolves enough to let loose in ridiculous fashion, yielding diminishing returns.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
The diminishing results amplified his idiosyncrasies.
—Kansas City Star, 11 Mar. 2026
Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 10 May 2026
Some are seeking better time slots paired with digital extensions that can net them bigger contracts from TV networks desperate to break free from diminishing pay TV revenue.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026
Back at the Elias-Clarke building, Runway’s intrepid leader Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) and her deputy Nigel (Stanley Tucci) fight to keep their once-vital, but now diminishing, print product alive in the digital age.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 1 May 2026
Even the most ambitious stories often felt exhausted by the third installment, with diminishing creative and financial returns.
—Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2026
Voting Rights Act was already weakened Section Two of the Voting Rights Act tries to prevent legislative map drawers from diminishing the voting power of racial minorities by either packing them into one district or spreading them out across too many districts to have an impact.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
New communication technologies have allowed the commission to expand opportunities for public participation while diminishing the requirement for physical hearings outside of the Ottawa-Gatineau region.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026
The quality and quantity of fruit and vegetables is diminishing, and prices are surging even further beyond the means of many across the island nation.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
Fans’ attachment is largely to the kids, who aren’t kids anymore, and ’80s nostalgia, which is a diminishing resource.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 23 Apr. 2026
Noun
The ability to comfortably live in California has become more difficult for the average resident, as the cost of living and the dollar's diminishing value have increased over the last year, said Theresa Rutherford, president of SEIU 1020.
—Paris Barraza, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Spring-Flowering Trees To avoid removing flower buds and diminishing—or halting entirely—the annual floral show, wait to prune trees that bloom before July until they are done flowering.
—Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 May 2026
Arsenal had lost the game, and yet another chunk of their diminishing lead in the table.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2026
Consolidation of power This diminishing of the role of the presidency and political legitimacy forms the background to any questions of succession now.
—Roxane Razavi, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 2026
Based on the diminishing returns of the Reading Challenge over the years (at this point, the Library needs to be shut down and defunded.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 28 Mar. 2026
Pollsters began noting diminishing approval for LGBTQ legal protections.
—Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 27 Mar. 2026
But its premise never evolves enough to let loose in ridiculous fashion, yielding diminishing returns.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026
The diminishing results amplified his idiosyncrasies.
—Kansas City Star, 11 Mar. 2026
Verb
The Wolves have not solved Wembanyama, who is significantly diminishing their inside presence.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 10 May 2026
Some are seeking better time slots paired with digital extensions that can net them bigger contracts from TV networks desperate to break free from diminishing pay TV revenue.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026
Back at the Elias-Clarke building, Runway’s intrepid leader Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep) and her deputy Nigel (Stanley Tucci) fight to keep their once-vital, but now diminishing, print product alive in the digital age.
—Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 1 May 2026
Even the most ambitious stories often felt exhausted by the third installment, with diminishing creative and financial returns.
—Hua Hsu, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2026
Voting Rights Act was already weakened Section Two of the Voting Rights Act tries to prevent legislative map drawers from diminishing the voting power of racial minorities by either packing them into one district or spreading them out across too many districts to have an impact.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
New communication technologies have allowed the commission to expand opportunities for public participation while diminishing the requirement for physical hearings outside of the Ottawa-Gatineau region.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 27 Apr. 2026
The quality and quantity of fruit and vegetables is diminishing, and prices are surging even further beyond the means of many across the island nation.
—ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
Fans’ attachment is largely to the kids, who aren’t kids anymore, and ’80s nostalgia, which is a diminishing resource.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 23 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for diminishing
Noun
-
The long answer is that Estée Lauder’s Diamond Moisturizer is hydrating (as all moisturizers should be), firming, tightening, wrinkle-reducing, age spot-fading, and texture-smoothing.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Moisturizing, soothing, and redness reducing, Erborian’s CC Cream is the ultimate cult-favorite beauty product.—
Beatrice Zocchi,
Vogue,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Once stationary, deactivate all lights except the hazard flashers, engage the emergency brake, and release the brake pedal to ensure your tail lights remain unlit, minimizing the chance of other drivers colliding with your stationary vehicle.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
8 May 2026
-
Delta Counties Coalition pushes back But Newsom's remarks quickly drew criticism from the Delta Counties Coalition, which accused the administration of minimizing concerns from Delta communities that oppose the tunnel project.—
Richard Ramos,
CBS News,
8 May 2026
Verb
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As recently reported through KPBS, this progress has led to rents decreasing by about 5%.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
-
Several years ago, MLB and Commissioner Rob Manfred enacted changes meant to speed up the game through better pace of play, keeping the same amount of action in baseball while decreasing the time each game took to finish.—
Ian Miller OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Breezy winds return on Tuesday after subsiding somewhat on Monday.—
Rachael Jay,
CBS News,
2 May 2026
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But there were no signs that the conflict was subsiding.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
To make the pie crust, sift together the all-purpose flour, cake flour, and salt into a food processor, then add the sugar, butter, and shortening.—
Carole Kotkin,
Miami Herald,
6 May 2026
-
In a very large mixing bowl, beat butter and shortening with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
2 May 2026
Verb
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Bangladesh was bowled out for 413 in its first innings, before taking a 27-run lead, dismissing Pakistan for 386 with offspinner Mehidy Hasan taking five wickets.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 May 2026
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On Friday, Makary was privately dismissing the reports of his imminent ouster as false, those people said.—
Sarah Owermohle,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Bass defended her administration’s handling of homelessness, pointing to declining homelessness counts and the city’s Inside Safe program, while criticizing Raman’s record on police hiring and past votes against some encampment enforcement measures near schools and other sensitive sites.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
8 May 2026
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Poverty, lack of transportation to school and mental health struggles contribute to absenteeism and declining enrollment across San Diego County.—
Jemma Stephenson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Noun
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While appearing radical at the time, the revamping of scientific boards to include more industry representatives, the undoing of power plant rules and the lessening of enforcement hobbled but did not completely undo the agency.—
Barbara Kates-Garnick,
The Conversation,
26 Aug. 2025
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The good news is that GPT-5 will presumably be somewhat less than gushingly friendly, though the lessening might be variable and of a mixed result.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Diminishing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/diminishing. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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