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
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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
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
Helen Graham, NBC news, 26 Jan. 2026
The end of Invest in Kids didn’t mean that demand for alternatives lessened.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026
Farther south, crippling ice and sleet are the biggest risk, even as predictions for severe southern impacts have lessened in the past day.
—Debbie Elliott, NPR, 22 Jan. 2026
As coaches’ leeway lessened, the two of them became the epitome of stability over the past two decades.
—Sam Jane, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
He was sentenced to 25 years in state prison due to a plea deal that lessened his charge to second-degree murder.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 12 Jan. 2026
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
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
The weather service says this band of precipitation would be lessened by the ice on Lake Erie, but not eliminated.
—Helen Graham, NBC news, 26 Jan. 2026
The end of Invest in Kids didn’t mean that demand for alternatives lessened.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 22 Jan. 2026
Farther south, crippling ice and sleet are the biggest risk, even as predictions for severe southern impacts have lessened in the past day.
—Debbie Elliott, NPR, 22 Jan. 2026
As coaches’ leeway lessened, the two of them became the epitome of stability over the past two decades.
—Sam Jane, New York Times, 15 Jan. 2026
He was sentenced to 25 years in state prison due to a plea deal that lessened his charge to second-degree murder.
—Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 12 Jan. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lessened
Verb
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In all, the fees were reduced by about $620,000 through automatic waivers and other savings, said Andrea Osgood, Eden Housing’s chief of real estate development.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
28 Jan. 2026
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This population has been reduced by vehicle strikes and by animals sustaining rodenticide poisoning over the past decades.—
Steve Scauzillo,
Daily News,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While the short-term base rate decreased thanks to cuts from the Fed last year, analysts are widely expecting the base rate to decrease at a slower pace in the New Year.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
12 Jan. 2026
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When eccentricity decreased, the climate shifted toward drier conditions.—
Stefanie Waldek,
Space.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Demand weakened most sharply in Europe.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Jan. 2026
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In Lebanon, the once formidable Hezbollah has been significantly weakened after 13 months of conflict with Israel and now faces a domestic disarmament campaign.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
29 Jan. 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
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The practice of fascism supersedes its ideas, which is why people affected and diminished by it are not all that interested in a marketplace of ideas in which fascists have prime purchasing power.—
Aleksandar Hemon,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
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Reduced star ratings result in lower reimbursement and diminished capacity to provide attractive benefits to draw in members.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The relationship further deteriorated after Buss reportedly felt that James wasn’t appreciative of the team’s efforts to bring his son, Bronny, on board, according to the report.—
Janis Carr,
Oc Register,
23 Jan. 2026
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As a result, my health deteriorated, and my family life suffered.—
Dr. Shaoqing Sun,
Forbes.com,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Here, the Seahawks seized upon the 49ers’ depleted defense, with Fred Warner watching in sweats from the sideline rather than being rushed back from ankle surgery three months ago.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
18 Jan. 2026
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Bills 26, Broncos 21 No Kittle and a depleted defense lead to a Seattle victory.—
Bill Reinhard,
New York Daily News,
15 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
Cite this Entry
“Lessened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lessened. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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