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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in diminished
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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 lessened
Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
The swelling had lessened, too.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2025
The shutdown has delayed the release of key economic data, such as the September jobs report that was expected Friday, and therefore lessened the amount of information available for the Fed ahead of its next interest rate decision.
—Hugh Leask,chloe Taylor,holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2025
In what remains the sport’s pre-eminent super-bullpen, Miller has lessened the sting of setup man Jason Adam’s season-ending quad injury.
—Dennis Lin, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
For example, with credit card fraud detection, the cost for each undetected fraudulent transaction might be lessened if the bank has fraud insurance or if the bank's enforcement activities recoup some fraud losses downstream.
—Eric Siegel, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
There were initial fears of Richard possibly losing his leg, but these were quickly lessened as the surgery went on, Grotakku said.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
As though the word defined or lessened their degree of responsibility.
—Uriel Kon
september 2, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025
This component is meant to kick in once the pain has lessened.
—Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025
Adjective
While most thought this would be a devastating blow to the Buccaneers' offense, the impact of his absence has been lessened due to the great play of rookie wide receiver Emeka Egbuka, who ranks inside the top five in receiving yards through six weeks.
—Reice Shipley, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Oct. 2025
The swelling had lessened, too.
—Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 15 Oct. 2025
The shutdown has delayed the release of key economic data, such as the September jobs report that was expected Friday, and therefore lessened the amount of information available for the Fed ahead of its next interest rate decision.
—Hugh Leask,chloe Taylor,holly Ellyatt, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2025
In what remains the sport’s pre-eminent super-bullpen, Miller has lessened the sting of setup man Jason Adam’s season-ending quad injury.
—Dennis Lin, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
For example, with credit card fraud detection, the cost for each undetected fraudulent transaction might be lessened if the bank has fraud insurance or if the bank's enforcement activities recoup some fraud losses downstream.
—Eric Siegel, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
There were initial fears of Richard possibly losing his leg, but these were quickly lessened as the surgery went on, Grotakku said.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
As though the word defined or lessened their degree of responsibility.
—Uriel Kon
september 2, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025
This component is meant to kick in once the pain has lessened.
—Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lessened
Verb
-
In 2023, the NFL suspended Detroit Lions wide receiver Jameson Williams, who missed four games after his initial six-game suspension was reduced, for placing a bet on a non-NFL game from an NFL facility.—
Saad Yousuf,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
-
However, Deadline reported that Grey's Anatomy had reduced the minimum guarantees for series regulars from 18 episodes per season to 14 during its 2024-25 season.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
When pressed on how inflation increasing below market expectations does not mean prices did not rise at all, the White House cited examples of where prices decreased.—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Oct. 2025
-
The Swiss bank noted that Miami’s bubble risk had actually decreased since 2024 and over the past five years, Miami and the similarly sunny and wealthy Dubai have led the pack, averaging real price growth of roughly 50%.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
After accounting for lifestyle variables like exercise, the effects weakened a bit as, for example, more active people tend to spend more time outdoors.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
24 Oct. 2025
-
San Francisco artificial intelligence giant OpenAI weakened its chatbots’ anti-suicide protections in the run-up to the death of teenager Adam Raine, according to new claims in a lawsuit by the boy’s parents.—
Ethan Baron,
Mercury News,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Nobody Wants This doesn’t fall off a creative cliff in its second season, but a lot of the charm is diminished.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Oct. 2025
-
That’s not going to eliminate the nest, and ants may return when the chemical residue has diminished.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Plus, the company outlook index deteriorated sharply, indicating an increasingly negative sentiment about future conditions.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
22 Oct. 2025
-
In the years before her death, Warren’s relationship with his mother had deteriorated.—
Alexandra Schonfeld,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
For eastern Cuba, the rainfall has subsided.—
MIAMI HERALD HURRICANE BOT,
Miami Herald,
29 Oct. 2025
-
After the shrieks subsided, the clip shows the substantial crack Denny left behind.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Ancient samples, degraded over centuries, often contain fragments too small for PCR to amplify.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Oct. 2025
-
In their world, which is also ours, selfhood has degraded into taste, preferences, demography, and outlays of attention and money.—
Katy Waldman,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Still, New York’s core of Jalen Brunson, Julius Randle, and OG Anunoby presents a formidable test for Cleveland’s depleted roster.—
Evan Dammarell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
-
The Knicks upset the Celtics in six games in the Eastern Conference semifinals, overcoming double-digit second-half deficits in Games 1, 2 and 4 before steamrolling the depleted defending champions by 38 points in Game 6.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lessened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lessened. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share