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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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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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
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
Cities across the nation are facing the same workplace trends including work-from-home flexibility and lessening square footage demands that are helping drive downtown office vacancies in Louisville.
—Matthew Glowicki, Louisville Courier Journal, 27 Feb. 2026
Meta, in a global race to dominate AI, wants to quickly build scale to seize the smart glasses market, lessening its reliance on hardware from tech rivals like Apple, the people said.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2026
The city says their work also preserves the shape of the beach above the high-water line to help turtles figure out where the appropriate nesting areas are, lessening the risk of their nests being too close to high-traffic areas.
—Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 20 Feb. 2026
Surgery may be better at lowering blood glucose levels, inducing weight loss, reducing risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and lessening the need for diabetes medications like insulin injections, a recent study concluded, but medication is winning the day.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 19 Feb. 2026
After doing cardiac rehabilitation, he's become active and changed his diet by lessening his red meat intake, drinking less caffeine, and eating less sugar and carbohydrates.
—Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 18 Feb. 2026
When vegan eating becomes more mainstream, fewer animals will be bred for food, lessening the threat of a life-threatening outbreak and nationwide pandemic.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 30 Jan. 2026
Noun
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
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
Cities across the nation are facing the same workplace trends including work-from-home flexibility and lessening square footage demands that are helping drive downtown office vacancies in Louisville.
—Matthew Glowicki, Louisville Courier Journal, 27 Feb. 2026
Meta, in a global race to dominate AI, wants to quickly build scale to seize the smart glasses market, lessening its reliance on hardware from tech rivals like Apple, the people said.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2026
The city says their work also preserves the shape of the beach above the high-water line to help turtles figure out where the appropriate nesting areas are, lessening the risk of their nests being too close to high-traffic areas.
—Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 20 Feb. 2026
Surgery may be better at lowering blood glucose levels, inducing weight loss, reducing risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and lessening the need for diabetes medications like insulin injections, a recent study concluded, but medication is winning the day.
—Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 19 Feb. 2026
After doing cardiac rehabilitation, he's become active and changed his diet by lessening his red meat intake, drinking less caffeine, and eating less sugar and carbohydrates.
—Nicole Villalpando, Austin American Statesman, 18 Feb. 2026
When vegan eating becomes more mainstream, fewer animals will be bred for food, lessening the threat of a life-threatening outbreak and nationwide pandemic.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 30 Jan. 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.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Moisturizing, soothing, and redness reducing, Erborian’s CC Cream is the ultimate cult-favorite beauty product.—
Beatrice Zocchi,
Vogue,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Basically, the Heat drove Rozier off the lot and depreciation set in immediately.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
10 Mar. 2026
-
These numbers don’t include interest and depreciation, the latter SpaceX’s outlays for plant and equipment.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
There are some recent signs that HALO trading has been decreasing.—
Devika Rao,
TheWeek,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Luckily, Sleep Week brings the best mattress sales, at least partially decreasing the strain on your wallet.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Over time, your appliance builds up with minerals from hard water, such as calcium and magnesium, diminishing its ability to effectively clean your items.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
14 Mar. 2026
-
The drumbeat for the diminishing prospects of the first-run syndication business has been growing louder over the past few years amid a shrinking marketplace.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
If the goal instead is regime weakening—enfeebling the Islamic Republic so the Iranian public could overwhelm it—there are two ways forward.—
Dennis Ross,
The Atlantic,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Weak onshore flows will then return Saturday, which combined with a weakening high pressure system are expected to bring five to 10 degrees of cooling to the coasts and valleys but little change across interior sections, according to the weather service.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Using a pastry blender, cut in shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.—
Philip Potempa,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
-
To make some, stir together equal parts flour, shortening, and vegetable oil, then brush this generously on the surface of the pan.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Estimates then included a $79 million decrease in sales taxes.—
Bryan P. Sears,
Baltimore Sun,
12 Mar. 2026
-
The average home value in Elk Grove is currently $624,443, according to Zillow, which represents a slight decrease from the prior year.—
Lydia Mansel,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But there were no signs that the conflict was subsiding.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
11 Mar. 2026
-
But, by the end of May, the issue was not subsiding.—
Evan Grant,
Dallas Morning News,
7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lessening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lessening. Accessed 17 Mar. 2026.
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