1
as in reducing
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2
as in depreciation
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in decreasing
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 diminishing
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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3
as in weakening
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 lessening
Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026
While appearing radical at the time, the revamping of scientific boards to include more industry representatives, the undoing of power plant rules and the lessening of enforcement hobbled but did not completely undo the agency.
—Barbara Kates-Garnick, The Conversation, 26 Aug. 2025
The good news is that GPT-5 will presumably be somewhat less than gushingly friendly, though the lessening might be variable and of a mixed result.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 12 May 2026
In the short term, maintaining regular, soft bowel movements can help relieve straining (more on this next), lessening symptoms such as pain, itching, and bleeding from inflamed veins.
—Sarah Garone, Health, 30 Apr. 2026
Lots will be made about lessening reliance on Nvidia .
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2026
By keeping more skin connected to the deeper tissues—and yielding smaller skin flaps in the face and neck—the technique aims to minimize space for fluid to settle, lessening not only post-op complications, but also bruising, swelling, and trauma to the skin.
—Jolene Edgar, Allure, 16 Mar. 2026
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
This will prioritize safety and reliability, while lessening emissions for local communities.
—Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 13 Mar. 2026
Song update The Padres are encouraged that Sung-Mun Song’s oblique discomfort appears to be lessening each day.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
Two months after the anniversary of the devastating Southern California firestorms, several legislators at the state Capitol unveiled a package of bills aimed at preventing wildfires and lessening their harms.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Noun
Tehran blames the foreign ministry of Lebanon, particularly foreign minister Youssef Raggi, for the ‘lessening of solidarity with Iran.
—Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026
While appearing radical at the time, the revamping of scientific boards to include more industry representatives, the undoing of power plant rules and the lessening of enforcement hobbled but did not completely undo the agency.
—Barbara Kates-Garnick, The Conversation, 26 Aug. 2025
The good news is that GPT-5 will presumably be somewhat less than gushingly friendly, though the lessening might be variable and of a mixed result.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Verb
The underlying bill is meant to ease the housing affordability crunch by lessening some government regulations on housing and incentivizing state and local governments to ease land-use regulations.
—Zach Halaschak, The Washington Examiner, 12 May 2026
In the short term, maintaining regular, soft bowel movements can help relieve straining (more on this next), lessening symptoms such as pain, itching, and bleeding from inflamed veins.
—Sarah Garone, Health, 30 Apr. 2026
Lots will be made about lessening reliance on Nvidia .
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 21 Apr. 2026
By keeping more skin connected to the deeper tissues—and yielding smaller skin flaps in the face and neck—the technique aims to minimize space for fluid to settle, lessening not only post-op complications, but also bruising, swelling, and trauma to the skin.
—Jolene Edgar, Allure, 16 Mar. 2026
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
This will prioritize safety and reliability, while lessening emissions for local communities.
—Rashad Alexander, Kansas City Star, 13 Mar. 2026
Song update The Padres are encouraged that Sung-Mun Song’s oblique discomfort appears to be lessening each day.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Mar. 2026
Two months after the anniversary of the devastating Southern California firestorms, several legislators at the state Capitol unveiled a package of bills aimed at preventing wildfires and lessening their harms.
—Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lessening
Noun
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The long answer is that Estée Lauder’s Diamond Moisturizer is hydrating (as all moisturizers should be), firming, tightening, wrinkle-reducing, age spot-fading, and texture-smoothing.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
5 Jan. 2026
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Moisturizing, soothing, and redness reducing, Erborian’s CC Cream is the ultimate cult-favorite beauty product.—
Beatrice Zocchi,
Vogue,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The property investor, which tends to be a high-net-worth individual or family office, gets a high-rent tenant plus major depreciation deductions, while the operator recycles capital into expansion.—
Diana Olick,
CNBC,
19 May 2026
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The market currently anticipates that Cloud revenue growth will exceed the impending depreciation surge, but any postponement in monetizing enterprise AI could reverse this scenario and impact the stock multiple negatively.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
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As chairman, Cassidy has had several clashes with the White House over confirmations, including for Kennedy due to his support for decreasing the number of vaccines children receive.—
Gabrielle M. Etzel,
The Washington Examiner,
13 May 2026
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San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie announced an overall 4% decrease, and unsheltered homelessness decreasing by 22% since the 2024 count.—
Robin Epley,
Sacbee.com,
13 May 2026
Verb
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Section Two of the Voting Rights Act was written to prevent diminishing the voting power of racial minorities by packing them into one district or spreading them out across many districts.—
Sarah Clifton,
USA Today,
16 May 2026
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Getty Images The Philadelphia Phillies have kept many of the same players on the roster since the team’s 2022 run all the way to the World Series, though the returns have been diminishing.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
That separation is now weakening.—
Ingmar Rentzhog,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
-
In addition to these external influences, Dini emphasized that long-term domestic instability has left Somalia’s coastline vulnerable, weakening local institutions and lowering the risks for pirate networks.—
Nimi Princewill,
CNN Money,
15 May 2026
Noun
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Using the all-together method allows for safer substitution of oil for shortening, but both methods are fairly reliable when baking.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 May 2026
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March is likely the final month a deal could be reached without shortening or significantly pushing back that year’s competition schedule.—
Evan Drellich,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
Noun
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Consumption has been linked to decreases in all-cause mortality.—
Christina Manian,
Health,
14 May 2026
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But drug harm reduction advocates and researchers say shifts in the drug supply and changes in drug use are the major contributors to the decrease in deaths.—
Ana Goñi-Lessan,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Breezy winds return on Tuesday after subsiding somewhat on Monday.—
Rachael Jay,
CBS News,
2 May 2026
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But there were no signs that the conflict was subsiding.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lessening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lessening. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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