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
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
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
Queta and Garza have held up well in their respective roles, lessening the Celtics’ need for center help.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
Yes, the lip lift is a means of lessening the distance between the nose and the mouth—but to what end?
—Jolene Edgar, Allure, 27 Jan. 2026
Scrambles can be operated at particular times of day, lessening the impact during peak hours.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026
That said, Unified Government officials, and the government’s own budget document said that diversifying its revenue streams, and lessening its dependence on property tax revenues could be one way to provide property tax relief for residents.
—Sofi Zeman
january 22, Kansas City Star, 22 Jan. 2026
Besides lessening the risk of falls, this can help prevent snow from sticking which will make shoveling easier the following day.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 15 Jan. 2026
Trump appears interested in shifting back to a Monroe Doctrine-era stance, as well as lessening global importance of countries like Russia, China and Iran, the analyst said.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 5 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
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
Queta and Garza have held up well in their respective roles, lessening the Celtics’ need for center help.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 28 Jan. 2026
Yes, the lip lift is a means of lessening the distance between the nose and the mouth—but to what end?
—Jolene Edgar, Allure, 27 Jan. 2026
Scrambles can be operated at particular times of day, lessening the impact during peak hours.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026
That said, Unified Government officials, and the government’s own budget document said that diversifying its revenue streams, and lessening its dependence on property tax revenues could be one way to provide property tax relief for residents.
—Sofi Zeman
january 22, Kansas City Star, 22 Jan. 2026
Besides lessening the risk of falls, this can help prevent snow from sticking which will make shoveling easier the following day.
—Caroline Lubinsky, Martha Stewart, 15 Jan. 2026
Trump appears interested in shifting back to a Monroe Doctrine-era stance, as well as lessening global importance of countries like Russia, China and Iran, the analyst said.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 5 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
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The bill would prevent companies with more than 50 single-family homes for rent from taking deductions for housing value depreciation and mortgage interest payments.—
Emily Wilkins,
CNBC,
24 Feb. 2026
-
In work terms, humility isn’t self depreciation.—
Adam Dietz,
Big Think,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The bill prohibits cities and counties from decreasing funding for public safety, which representatives from the local governments say isn’t possible.—
Alexandra Glorioso,
Miami Herald,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The goal is to minimize traffic spillover onto surrounding streets while providing more reliable travel times for people in cars and freight trucks and decreasing travel times for buses.—
Frederick Melo,
Twin Cities,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Our light is now diminishing from a vibrant flame to only a flicker of light, and the world is watching our demise.—
Letters to the Editor,
Hartford Courant,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Read the story » More Top Stories David Remnick speaks with Conan O’Brien about prepping for the Oscars, the diminishing relevance of late-night TV, and the loss of his close friends Rob and Michele Reiner.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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There is, at present, some evidence for dark energy weakening over time, although the results from the DESI collaboration, which provide the strongest evidence to date for such a scenario, are highly ambiguous.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Evidenced by no-confidence votes and faculty demonstrations, a sizable number of professors hold weakening trust in their institution's administrators.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Using a pastry blender, cut in butter and shortening until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.—
Holly Riordan,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Experts have predicted that AI systems capable of autonomously improving themselves, otherwise known as recursive self-improvement, might vastly increase the speed at which AI development takes place, potentially shortening years of complex research into weeks or even days.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
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The decrease in health care utilization isn’t just bad for patients, Muthyala said.—
Lauren Mascarenhas,
CNN Money,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The decrease was mainly due to higher net financial expenses.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Police said the ice conditions subsiding and the low tide conditions made for a much easier search, which involved multiple drones.—
Justin Muszynski,
Hartford Courant,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Though snowy conditions are subsiding, the impacts of the storm will linger in the coming days—especially as many regions that saw snowfall are beginning the week with single-digit temperatures.—
Simmone Shah,
Time,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lessening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lessening. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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