1
as in reducing
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
2
as in depreciation
Related Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 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
Theara Coleman,
TheWeek,
25 June 2026
The move signifies OpenAI's shift towards vertical integration, lessening reliance on general-purpose hardware.
—
Jon Markman,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
At your workstation, this monitor automatically detects lighting changes and adjust the brightness on screen, and also comes with Eye Saver Mode to reduce blue light, lessening eye strain.
—
George Yang,
PC Magazine,
19 June 2026
The drug is designed to rapidly block platelets from clumping and restricting blood flow, lessening the adverse outcomes of a heart attack.
—
Justin Zacks,
CNBC,
4 June 2026
Comeaux also noted that a separate $10 million grant is set to be used for technology aimed at lessening the threat posed by drones.
—
Matthew Ablon,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
The vaccine is 80% effective at preventing illness and highly effective in lessening symptoms.
—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
28 May 2026
Teams are checking the temperature of the tank every 30 minutes, hoping to confirm a downward trend that would indicate risk is lessening.
—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
26 May 2026
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
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
What are the risks of lessening the barrier to testosterone therapy?
—
Theara Coleman,
TheWeek,
25 June 2026
The move signifies OpenAI's shift towards vertical integration, lessening reliance on general-purpose hardware.
—
Jon Markman,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
At your workstation, this monitor automatically detects lighting changes and adjust the brightness on screen, and also comes with Eye Saver Mode to reduce blue light, lessening eye strain.
—
George Yang,
PC Magazine,
19 June 2026
The drug is designed to rapidly block platelets from clumping and restricting blood flow, lessening the adverse outcomes of a heart attack.
—
Justin Zacks,
CNBC,
4 June 2026
Comeaux also noted that a separate $10 million grant is set to be used for technology aimed at lessening the threat posed by drones.
—
Matthew Ablon,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
The vaccine is 80% effective at preventing illness and highly effective in lessening symptoms.
—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
28 May 2026
Teams are checking the temperature of the tank every 30 minutes, hoping to confirm a downward trend that would indicate risk is lessening.
—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
26 May 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lessening
Noun
-
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.
-
Moisturizing, soothing, and redness reducing, Erborian’s CC Cream is the ultimate cult-favorite beauty product.
Noun
-
Instead, Elliott wants to allow the government to be able to pay the lower book value on those assets, or what the utility originally paid, minus depreciation.
-
Lawrence has also honed his sense of perspective, even if it’s often masked by self-depreciation.
Verb
-
Authors on the study found that COVID vaccines were roughly 55% effective in preventing hospitalizations associated with the illness and about 50% effective in decreasing trips to emergency rooms or urgent care facilities.
-
If one wanted to produce more offense by decreasing drag, mixing in some baseballs with lower seams wouldn’t hurt.
Verb
-
Not even a hint of repercussions for diminishing the integrity of the event.
-
The 23-page analysis also pointed to escalating public health and social services costs, declining investments in capital improvements and an outsized reliance on state and federal tax dollars as drivers of the county’s diminishing financial health.
Verb
-
The hurricane-weakening effects of El Niño may be positive for property and casualty insurers in the Northern Hemisphere.
-
An unpopular war, a structurally sound economy, but maybe GDP weakening, unemployment strong, but consumer confidence weakening.
Noun
-
Add shortening and continue cutting in until flour is pale yellow and resembles coarse cornmeal with butter bits no larger than small peas.
-
Cut in butter or shortening until the mixture resembles coarse meal.
Noun
-
Local law enforcement have touted recent decreases in crime on the CTA in particular, which beefed up security staffing in December and again in March.
-
In contrast, California, Florida, Illinois, and Arkansas have recorded double-digit decreases in jobs.
Verb
-
The afternoon started tough until the wind kept subsiding, and players began taking aim at flags.
-
Weather service and public safety officials said the safest thing to do is to stay away from the beaches altogether until the southern swells start subsiding.
Cite this Entry
“Lessening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lessening. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
