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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in reducing
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Dissimilar Words
2
as in depreciation
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lessening
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
Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
Like President Reagan, those pushing for democracy promotion equated political freedom with strengthening free markets and thereby lessening the attraction abroad to movements—including but not limited to communism—that aimed to redistribute resources to reduce economic inequality.
—Time, 3 Sep. 2025
Because McCarthy’s contract will increase in the next couple of seasons, lessening the amount the front office can spend elsewhere.
—Alec Lewis, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
In addition, myokines may dampen cell migration, lessening the risk of cancer spreading (metastasis), thus improving survival rates.
—Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 22 Aug. 2025
Edge computing brings processing power closer to devices, significantly reducing latency and lessening central cloud system loads crucial for processing-intensive tasks despite edge nodes' limited capabilities.
—Hemant Soni, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
For Bermuda, the storm was traveling farther away than expected, lessening the impacts, the government said.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 20 Aug. 2025
Netflix and Amazon were among the companies that considered lessening rates during this year’s haggle, according to media buyers and sales executives with knowledge of the market.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 14 Aug. 2025
Replacing the production of KU legend Neal won’t be easy, but Hishaw should play a big part in lessening the blow.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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
Noun
Iran was particularly helpful to Moscow in the early months of the war, providing it with know-how on lessening the pain of sanctions, Lough said.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
Like President Reagan, those pushing for democracy promotion equated political freedom with strengthening free markets and thereby lessening the attraction abroad to movements—including but not limited to communism—that aimed to redistribute resources to reduce economic inequality.
—Time, 3 Sep. 2025
Because McCarthy’s contract will increase in the next couple of seasons, lessening the amount the front office can spend elsewhere.
—Alec Lewis, New York Times, 27 Aug. 2025
In addition, myokines may dampen cell migration, lessening the risk of cancer spreading (metastasis), thus improving survival rates.
—Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 22 Aug. 2025
Edge computing brings processing power closer to devices, significantly reducing latency and lessening central cloud system loads crucial for processing-intensive tasks despite edge nodes' limited capabilities.
—Hemant Soni, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
For Bermuda, the storm was traveling farther away than expected, lessening the impacts, the government said.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC news, 20 Aug. 2025
Netflix and Amazon were among the companies that considered lessening rates during this year’s haggle, according to media buyers and sales executives with knowledge of the market.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 14 Aug. 2025
Replacing the production of KU legend Neal won’t be easy, but Hishaw should play a big part in lessening the blow.
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lessening
Verb
-
The move is meant to help people start recovering quickly while reducing financial stress on property owners, City Administrator Jim Archambo told members of the council.—
Bridget Fogarty,
jsonline.com,
29 Aug. 2025
-
Other lifestyle changes—like exercising, eating whole foods, and reducing stress—can help lower your blood pressure.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
In the first fiscal quarter ended June 28, sales in Greater China were down 5 percent, with mainland China decreasing 4 percent.—
Samantha Conti,
Footwear News,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Use a Weighted Vest Weight loss requires increasing daily physical activity, decreasing daily caloric intake, or both.—
Anna Giorgi,
Verywell Health,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
America’s retreat from WHO deepens the damage by weakening global systems for monitoring outbreaks, reviewing evidence and maintaining databases such as the Global Burden of Disease.—
Stan Chu Ilo,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Sep. 2025
-
That underscored rising concerns of weakening in the labor market, a trend that has shown up in anecdotal evidence for several months.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Ignore them, and even disciplined leaders see diminishing returns.—
Julian Hayes II,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Waller announced his decision to retire due to his love of the game diminishing and expressed a desire to grow in the music industry.—
Andrew Wright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
This was followed by varieties of sovereign default, typically involving either a failure to make debt payments and a restructuring of debt terms, or a bout of currency depreciation to inflate away debts denominated in domestic currencies.—
Nathan Lewis,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
-
The result was a sharp dollar depreciation, a stock market collapse, and a surge in bond yields.—
,
CNBC,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
By 2008, Americans were withdrawing, and combat deaths were subsiding to their lowest level since the start of the occupation.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
2 Sep. 2025
-
The totals included two new records, coinciding with a subsiding Middle Tennessee heat wave.—
Andy Humbles,
The Tennessean,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Design for Choice, Not Chaos Present customers with multiple options, from digital wallets to local payment rails, without degrading user experience.—
Christer Holloman,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Are officials degrading citizens’ Internet access to sell them VPNs?—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Ree calls for 1 cup of shortening, such as Crisco, rather than butter in these cookies.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
30 Aug. 2025
-
Unlike the typical butter-and-water combo, the bakery uses a blend of vegetable shortening and milk, which keeps the crust extra flaky and tender, perfect for holding any filling.—
Alexandra Emanuelli,
Southern Living,
19 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lessening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lessening. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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