as in diminished
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in reduced
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decreased
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually
the pain should begin to lessen within minutes of taking the medication
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in weakened
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 lessened
Ty Kaplan, Dallas Morning News, 2 Jan. 2026
An overloaded dryer leads to lessened airflow and, therefore, extended dry time.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Dec. 2025
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 9 Jan. 2026
The 2005 visual was largely similar, but lessened the amount of protein recommended and added an icon representing physical activity.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
Neither player is a prolific shot-maker from long range, but Green’s dwindling speed advantage is further lessened when he is guarded by power forwards rather than centers on dribble handoffs.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Cruz alleges in his letter to Johnson that Boardman lessened Roske’s sentence by 22 years out of concern Roske over his gender identity.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 7 Jan. 2026
The 12-team format hasn't lessened the sting for programs kept out of the bracket.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
Before the pandemic, the annual box office would regularly hit $11 billion, but the post-pandemic goal has lessened to $9 billion.
—Lindsey Bahr, Fortune, 24 Nov. 2025
Bitcoin on Thursday declined to levels not seen since April 21 , amid a broader market pullback that saw investors rake in profits from risk-on assets as hopes of an upcoming Federal Reserve interest rate cut lessened .
—Pia Singh, CNBC, 20 Nov. 2025
That lessened the attention — and pressure — on lawmakers to negotiate a way to reopen the government.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
After taking a lessened role in 2025, Texas Tech cornerback Maurion Horn will enter the transfer portal with one year of eligibility remaining, per multiple reports.
—Ty Kaplan, Dallas Morning News, 2 Jan. 2026
An overloaded dryer leads to lessened airflow and, therefore, extended dry time.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Dec. 2025
Verb
In any case, there’s cause for celebration now, as some 100,000 children will be covered in the initial implementation, which means tens of thousands of families that will have a significant burden lessened.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 9 Jan. 2026
The 2005 visual was largely similar, but lessened the amount of protein recommended and added an icon representing physical activity.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
Neither player is a prolific shot-maker from long range, but Green’s dwindling speed advantage is further lessened when he is guarded by power forwards rather than centers on dribble handoffs.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Cruz alleges in his letter to Johnson that Boardman lessened Roske’s sentence by 22 years out of concern Roske over his gender identity.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 7 Jan. 2026
The 12-team format hasn't lessened the sting for programs kept out of the bracket.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
Before the pandemic, the annual box office would regularly hit $11 billion, but the post-pandemic goal has lessened to $9 billion.
—Lindsey Bahr, Fortune, 24 Nov. 2025
Bitcoin on Thursday declined to levels not seen since April 21 , amid a broader market pullback that saw investors rake in profits from risk-on assets as hopes of an upcoming Federal Reserve interest rate cut lessened .
—Pia Singh, CNBC, 20 Nov. 2025
That lessened the attention — and pressure — on lawmakers to negotiate a way to reopen the government.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lessened
Verb
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At 40 of the country’s busiest airports, flights coming and going will be reduced by 10% this week.—
The Kim Komando Show,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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For a family of three, the benefit would be reduced by $275.—
Daniel McFadin,
Arkansas Online,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Content licensing revenues decreased 27% to $59 million primarily due to the timing and availability of deliveries in the period.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
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The median sale price for detached homes remained flat at $650,000, while attached homes decreased by 3% to $388,220.—
Sara B. Hansen,
Denver Post,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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With some estimates putting wave heights as much as 35 feet, weakened hatch covers would have been vulnerable to such waves.—
Stephen J. Beard,
USA Today,
7 Nov. 2025
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The years of horrific violence have weakened Sudan, plunging its institutions into chaos and making its population more vulnerable and poorer.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Davie’s successor will inherit an organization wrestling with its place in a media ecosystem dominated by overseas tech giants, as well as battling enemies closer to home, with conservative politicians and media proprietors wishing to see the BBC diminished during charter renewal.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
9 Jan. 2026
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The war diminished Iran’s deterrence capability and exposed the regime’s weakness.—
CNN Staff,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But just an hour later, the wife received a call from the home telling her that his condition had deteriorated and he was being sent to Hialeah Hospital.—
Kevin G. Hall,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
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The judge said the missing video could have shown whether deputies or medical staff had checked on Schuck or ignored him as his condition deteriorated.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Charlotte outrebounded Chicago 52-43 while playing with a depleted frontcourt.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
4 Jan. 2026
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The Hornets outrebounded the Bulls 52-43 while playing with a depleted frontcourt.—
Jay Cohen,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In the two weeks since the Justice Department failed to fully meet a legal deadline to release its expansive tranche of files on Jeffrey Epstein, old conspiracy theories about his life and death have subsided and new ones have taken shape.—
Stephen Fowler,
NPR,
2 Jan. 2026
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As entheogenic effects subsided, the digital-age healer pulled out her iPhone and showed me photos from her recent trip home.—
María Cristina Lalonde,
Travel + Leisure,
29 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Wallin points out that half of the world’s GDP, amounting to $44 trillion, is directly dependent on nature, yet the essential systems that support economic stability continue to be degraded.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
3 Nov. 2025
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Ancient samples, degraded over centuries, often contain fragments too small for PCR to amplify.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lessened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lessened. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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