1
as in to reduce
to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent
we lessened our efforts as it became clear they weren't having an effect
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to decrease
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually
the pain should begin to lessen within minutes of taking the medication
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to degrade
to lower in character, dignity, or quality
blatant hypocrisy that lessened him in the eyes of the voters
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lessen
The vision is expected to begin with further strengthening downtown Hartford and lessening its dependency on office workers for vibrancy.
—
Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 13 Mar. 2026
The change sought to reduce the amount of EtO released from commercial sterilizers by 90% and lessen the hazards for nearby communities.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Hyland’s emergence, the trade for Dosunmu and the buyout addition of Kyle Anderson have solidified a paper-thin back end of the roster and lessened the burden on Minnesota’s top six players.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
This will prioritize safety and reliability, while lessening emissions for local communities.
—Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lessen
Kenneth R. Gosselin, Hartford Courant, 13 Mar. 2026
The change sought to reduce the amount of EtO released from commercial sterilizers by 90% and lessen the hazards for nearby communities.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Hyland’s emergence, the trade for Dosunmu and the buyout addition of Kyle Anderson have solidified a paper-thin back end of the roster and lessened the burden on Minnesota’s top six players.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 13 Mar. 2026
This will prioritize safety and reliability, while lessening emissions for local communities.
—Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lessen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lessen
Verb
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In the kitchen, ingredients are sourced locally to reduce carbon footprint and maintain freshness.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 Mar. 2026
-
To reduce risk during outdoor work, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks in shaded or air-conditioned environments.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The biodiversity also decreased by 32 percent.—
Lauren Sommer,
NPR,
13 Mar. 2026
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The closure is part of the North Aurora Road Improvement Project, an intergovernmental construction project being done by Naperville Township, the cities of Naperville and Aurora to improve pedestrian and bicycle access and decrease traffic congestion and crashes in the area.—
Carolyn Stein,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has been degraded during the American and Israeli war against it, but remains far from neutralized.—
Mike Brest,
The Washington Examiner,
11 Mar. 2026
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Conventional relay-lens setups often degrade beam quality or require precise positioning.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After a decade of dramatic growth, homelessness programs now face a period of diminishing resources.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
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Advocates say that level of disenrollment will sharply diminish the state’s health care system as a whole, by robbing hospitals and clinics of revenue.—
Andrew Graham
March 9,
Sacbee.com,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Under this model, airlines, hotels, and other end-service providers may benefit, while intermediaries such as ticket booking platforms and price comparison websites may see their roles weakened.—
,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2026
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This weakens the plant and can cause dieback.—
Steve Bender,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Robinhood’s stock fell 90% in 2022 as the meme stock mania subsided and then flatlined.—
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson,
semafor.com,
13 Mar. 2026
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Her depression subsided not long after.—
Jamie Ducharme,
USA Today,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Their goal was to get control over their local water supply like their neighbors, in order to upgrade deteriorating infrastructure and rein in rising water rates.—
Tara Molina,
CBS News,
12 Mar. 2026
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The turtle slows, more organisms attach, and the animal’s condition deteriorates.—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Artificial intelligence companies recently threatened to shun Illinois and build their most advanced data centers in Wisconsin and Indiana if the state doesn’t dilute its privacy law, the toughest in the country.—
Addison Wright,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
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The plans allow existing stockholders to buy shares at a steep discount, which dilutes the value and voting power of new share purchases.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lessen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lessen. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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