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
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
In addition to impacting white-collar jobs, AI is also shedding the need for some entry-level roles, according to an analysis from McKinsey, which said 51% of organizations reported in a 2025 survey that generative AI was lessening their need for entry-level jobs.
—Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes.com, 22 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
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
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
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 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
In addition to impacting white-collar jobs, AI is also shedding the need for some entry-level roles, according to an analysis from McKinsey, which said 51% of organizations reported in a 2025 survey that generative AI was lessening their need for entry-level jobs.
—Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes.com, 22 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
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
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
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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Jeremy Michalek, director of the Carnegie Mellon University Vehicle Electrification Group, performed some calculations that included a scenario in which both cars were sold in five years to factor in depreciation.—
Jeff Brady,
NPR,
1 June 2026
-
The 33% increase over two years came after Democrats in control of state government increased tax rates and reduced the depreciation rate for vehicles.—
Alex Derosier,
Twin Cities,
31 May 2026
Verb
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Over time, the theory goes, this will disrupt the reproduction cycle, thereby increasing competition and decreasing the overall population.—
Joe Wilkins,
Futurism,
4 June 2026
-
Following the trade, Jim Cramer's Charitable Trust will own 360 shares of DOV, decreasing its weighting in the portfolio to about 2% from 3%.—
Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Trump has also proposed slashing nearly $800 million from the park system’s roughly $3-billion operating budget — potentially diminishing the ability to keep facilities clean and control crowds.—
Jack Dolan,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
-
The singer-songwriter’s forthright and wistful new record, Philadelphia’s Been Good to Me, is an exercise in revisitation that yields expanding, not diminishing, returns.—
Hattie Lindert,
Pitchfork,
29 May 2026
Verb
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Brooks Koepka, who rejoined the PGA Tour from LIV Golf in January, withdrew from the Charles Schwab Challenge at the last minute despite being originally scheduled to play, further weakening the field.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 May 2026
-
Second, some worry that some of the financial safeguards and market disciplines developed after previous crises may be weakening.—
Robert Ginsburg,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
Noun
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Stress-relieving travel can also slow the shortening of telomeres, one of the indicators of biological age.—
Alessandra Signorelli,
Vogue,
29 May 2026
-
Once in place, attackers are prevented from pivoting freely from segment to segment, thereby containing potential attacks, shortening mitigation timelines and lowering financial impact.—
Jaushin Lee,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
Noun
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The results were in line with company expectations, but shares fell 23% in after-hours trading following the announcement on Wednesday evening, and the company is lowering its full-year outlook from a slight increase to a slight decrease.—
Madeleine Schulz,
Vogue,
4 June 2026
-
The range increase didn’t require something like a decrease in power—in fact, the standard Solterra got a few extra horsepower, taking it to 233 hp (174 kW) from a pair of identical front and rear motors.—
Jonathan M. Gitlin,
ArsTechnica,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Breezy winds return on Tuesday after subsiding somewhat on Monday.—
Rachael Jay,
CBS News,
2 May 2026
-
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 7 Jun. 2026.
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