DIMINISHING Synonyms: 232 Similar and Opposite Words

diminishing 1 of 2

noun

as in reducing

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diminishing

2 of 2

verb

present participle of diminish

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

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

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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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 diminishing

Noun

The team has been to the playoffs the past four years, generally with diminishing returns year after year. — Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 Of recognizing the Sisyphean task ahead, the endless, unchanging road diminishing in the distance, and taking another step anyway. — Emily Temple, Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026 With the tariff threat to its business diminishing, Linamar has been able to turn the disruption to its advantage. — Ari Altstedter, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2026 For the actor, the story of Willy’s diminishing place in a changing world is increasingly contemporary. — Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 17 Aug. 2026 Iran’s problem is the long-term cost of its current strategy; Washington’s problem is the diminishing returns on each additional night of bombing. — Hamidreza Azizi, Time, 30 July 2026 Nevertheless, Gu reckons that pushing charging speed much higher will provide diminishing returns for customers. — James Morris, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026 Brendan McDermid | Reuters Treasury yields were relatively unchanged on Monday, as investors weighed the impact from Middle East tensions and the diminishing likelihood that the Federal Reserve will lower interest rates anytime soon. — Sean Conlon,hugh Leask, CNBC, 8 June 2026 But there is no doubt that the NAACP is right about the contradiction of people cheering the exploits of Black athletes at college programs while also cheering the diminishing of Black political representation. — Michael Cunningham, AJC.com, 4 June 2026

Verb

But the war’s unintended consequences have spread far beyond the Middle East, affecting global security, diminishing America’s global standing, and potentially providing its adversaries with an opportunity to expand their influence. — Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026 As more money and attention flow into the space, the challenge is how to capitalize on the cultural cachet of the Grand Slams without diminishing what made that access desirable in the first place. — Jessica Schiffer, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026 The changes would significantly weaken Head Start, diminishing its ability to provide quality early learning, health services, family engagement services and parent leadership opportunities that have boosted families for decades. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026 The change in warships comes after a fresh barrage of reporting about diminishing food supplies, a lack of hygiene products and declining mental health for service members who have been on board the Lincoln since November 2025. — Chris Quintana, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2026 In the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict, France's initial mediating role gave way to a pro-Armenia stance, alienating Baku and diminishing its leverage with Yerevan, which now increasingly favors the US. — Kamran Bokhari, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 Keeping his loyal base fevered, furious and fearful has to a large extent diverted their attention from their diminishing resources and personal safety and threatened constitutional rights. — Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 19 Aug. 2026 Some education experts see the move as another step in diminishing the rigor that gives higher education its value. — Ira Porter, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Aug. 2026 The noise surrounding Cody Gakpo doesn’t seem to be diminishing. — Andy Jones, New York Times, 19 Aug. 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

Definition of reducing

Verb

What makes a roster a championship roster is scheming by accentuating the strengths and minimizing the weaknesses.

— Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026
The yearlong closure allowed the park district to address multiple infrastructure needs at once, minimizing the disruption that would have resulted from completing the work over several seasons, according to officials.

— Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of minimizing

Verb

Parton didn’t stop with Dollywood By the early 1990s, Parton created The Dollywood Foundation with the goal of decreasing the high school drop out rate in Sevier County, which was hovering around 30%.

— Kimberlee Kruesi, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
Over several days, gradually increase the proportion of the new food while decreasing the old food.

— Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of decreasing

Verb

Two of them coincide with areas where satellite radar shows that the ground is actively subsiding.

— Nolan Roth, Scientific American, 23 Aug. 2026
Key Background The crisis appeared to be subsiding somewhat Friday as Spanish authorities said a majority of the 60,000 people who crossed into Ceuta from Morocco over the past several days had returned home.

— Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026

Definition of subsiding

Noun

The height of this strategy shift was the Sneak Attack by Roger (SABR), in which Federer crept forward to return opponent’s serves almost on the half volley, shortening points and taking away time from his opponent.

— Amelie Claydon, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Jump to Nutrition Facts Cream of tartar gives the cookies their signature snickerdoodle tang, while coconut oil mimics the flavor and texture of vegetable shortening, another traditional ingredient in snickerdoodles.

— Emily Paster, Midwest Living, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of shortening

Verb

Petersen allegedly deferred to a male sergeant’s expertise on topics including firearms and internal affairs while dismissing Kennon’s expertise in other areas.

— Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 22 Aug. 2026
With the commander-in-chief and defense secretary now dismissing those reports as false, Congress should require a bipartisan committee of former military members to visit the ship.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of dismissing

Noun

The good news for the Broadway ticket buyer is that there does not necessarily appear to be a lessening in the quality of these shows, despite their quick turnaround.

— Katie North, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
Tehran blames the foreign ministry of Lebanon, particularly foreign minister Youssef Raggi, for the ‘lessening of solidarity with Iran.

— Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026