as in diminished
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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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lessened
Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
Mitigators work in the other direction, articulating a spectrum of factors that might support lessened punishment, such as the defendant having no prior criminal record, or acting under significant duress.
—Literary Hub, 20 Jan. 2026
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
Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
The jump lessened through the day, though, which helped moderate the losses for stocks.
—Stan Choe, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
The jump lessened throughout the day, though, which helped moderate the losses for stocks.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Today’s parents grew up in a world where vaccines averted preventable diseases, or at least lessened the toll of those illnesses if infection occurred.
—Helen Branswell, STAT, 2 Mar. 2026
And how can these problems be solved—or at least lessened?
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2026
Redistricting and the rise in safe House seats, though, has lessened the likelihood of wave elections that would bring huge swings toward one party or the other.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 9 Feb. 2026
But the flooding would be less powerful than at the old site, Wing said, and its impact could be lessened by elevating the hospital or building earthen embankments.
—Brett Kelman, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
The automobile lessened our reliance on the horse.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
Kuminga then saw a combination of injuries and uneven performances lead to lessened playing time before eventually falling out of the rotation altogether.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
Mitigators work in the other direction, articulating a spectrum of factors that might support lessened punishment, such as the defendant having no prior criminal record, or acting under significant duress.
—Literary Hub, 20 Jan. 2026
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
As the year went along, those opportunities lessened, and Moore became a decoy running clearout routes quite a bit.
—Joe Buscaglia, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
The jump lessened through the day, though, which helped moderate the losses for stocks.
—Stan Choe, Chicago Tribune, 3 Mar. 2026
The jump lessened throughout the day, though, which helped moderate the losses for stocks.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 3 Mar. 2026
Today’s parents grew up in a world where vaccines averted preventable diseases, or at least lessened the toll of those illnesses if infection occurred.
—Helen Branswell, STAT, 2 Mar. 2026
And how can these problems be solved—or at least lessened?
—Jordan Blum, Fortune, 1 Mar. 2026
Redistricting and the rise in safe House seats, though, has lessened the likelihood of wave elections that would bring huge swings toward one party or the other.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 9 Feb. 2026
But the flooding would be less powerful than at the old site, Wing said, and its impact could be lessened by elevating the hospital or building earthen embankments.
—Brett Kelman, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
The automobile lessened our reliance on the horse.
—Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 9 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lessened
Verb
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Halsey said the women’s identities were reduced to billboard images during the investigation of their deaths.—
Jane Horowitz,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
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Second, the swift realignment of NASA Goddard’s priorities with the President’s budget request for the 2026 fiscal year — a realignment that occurred when the budget was still only a request — reduced the availability of mission formulation and mission engineering personnel to work on AXIS.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Drone strikes have decreased by 83%.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Though on Saturday, MDFR said smoke in the area had greatly decreased compared to Thursday and Friday.—
David Goodhue,
Miami Herald,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The lower target follows a yearslong property sector slump that sent home prices tumbling, weakened domestic consumption and investment confidence and led to massive job losses.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Mar. 2026
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But Bradost said that the Kurdish parties were open to working with most Iranian political forces—just not the Islamic Republic, which is now too weakened to be a partner, or Reza Pahlavi, the son of the late shah of Iran, who has been publicly hostile to the Kurdish parties.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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In Stoddart’s estimation, the best way to freeze these semi-consumed cakes is in slices.—
Taylor Tobin,
Southern Living,
2 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Liverpool’s transition threat has diminished.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
5 Mar. 2026
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Extensive research shows that insufficient sleep is associated with impaired cognitive function, chronic health problems, diminished productivity and an increase in traffic accidents, just to name a few.—
Stephen Neely,
The Conversation,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Some claimed that her mental health had deteriorated.—
Anika Burgess,
New Yorker,
7 Mar. 2026
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The move to change the clock came after relations between the United States and Canada deteriorated.—
Molly Parks,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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European gas prices are also up 30%, leaving several countries in a vulnerable position due to depleted reserves, Bloomberg reported.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
9 Mar. 2026
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New secondary coach Ryan Smith coached Thompson with the Arizona Cardinals for the last three seasons, leading to a strong co-sign on the defensive staff to fill a hole on a depleted defense from 2025.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The settling of chairs subsided, people shifted into comfortable postures, some laid out on the carpet.—
Sofia Zarran,
Miami Herald,
7 Mar. 2026
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And, unlike longer alternatives like 2-year or 5-year CD options, savers will maintain some flexibility to pivot here in 2027 after the current market volatility may have subsided.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lessened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lessened. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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