1
as in reduces
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decreases
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 degrades
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lessens
This decrease, in turn, lessens the force responsible for fibrosis, a buildup of scar tissue that harms organs.
—
Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
Schneider is only 24, which lessens the urgency felt with a veteran such as Trocheck.
—Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Anything that lessens the steep sticker price of IVF is a big win, Brian Levine, MD, founding partner and practice director of CCRM Fertility of New York, tells SELF.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 9 Mar. 2026
The bridge is meant to create a north-south connection over the San Diego River — not subject to flooding — that lessens traffic congestion, promotes biking and walking, and facilitates access to the Fenton Parkway Trolley Station just west of the SDSU Mission Valley campus.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
The strategy not only reduces costs but also lessens Chinese companies’ exposure to geopolitical risks.
—John Liu, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
Ideal for the ultimate no-makeup makeup look, for which Westman is known, the innovative blush harnesses biomimicry pigment technology, which lessens the risk of inflammation by encapsulating the synthetic pigments in the blush.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2026
That heist perhaps lessens the need for a similarly big swing this season.
—Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 4 Feb. 2026
Six nominees in the acting categories also lessens the chances for obvious snubs.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 27 Jan. 2026
Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
Schneider is only 24, which lessens the urgency felt with a veteran such as Trocheck.
—Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Anything that lessens the steep sticker price of IVF is a big win, Brian Levine, MD, founding partner and practice director of CCRM Fertility of New York, tells SELF.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 9 Mar. 2026
The bridge is meant to create a north-south connection over the San Diego River — not subject to flooding — that lessens traffic congestion, promotes biking and walking, and facilitates access to the Fenton Parkway Trolley Station just west of the SDSU Mission Valley campus.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
The strategy not only reduces costs but also lessens Chinese companies’ exposure to geopolitical risks.
—John Liu, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
Ideal for the ultimate no-makeup makeup look, for which Westman is known, the innovative blush harnesses biomimicry pigment technology, which lessens the risk of inflammation by encapsulating the synthetic pigments in the blush.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 9 Feb. 2026
That heist perhaps lessens the need for a similarly big swing this season.
—Jeff McDonald, San Antonio Express-News, 4 Feb. 2026
Six nominees in the acting categories also lessens the chances for obvious snubs.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lessens
Verb
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This reduces long setup times typically required for brain-computer interfaces.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Removing your data from these sites reduces the information criminals can use to target you.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
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And recent data from a trial that Cherney is involved in, called REMODEL, show that semaglutide reduces damage to kidney blood vessel linings, decreases the activity of natural killer cells (white blood cells that destroy diseased cells), and increases fat loss from stores surrounding the kidneys.—
Tara Haelle,
Scientific American,
17 Mar. 2026
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As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Phase 1 degrades military power and holds hostage the regime’s economic lifelines.—
Richard Goldberg,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
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And the implants can sometimes move or cause scar tissue buildup over time that degrades their signals.—
Tanya Lewis,
Scientific American,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Ned Bair, a research associate at the Earth Research Institute at UC Santa Barbara, said that while the total number of avalanches may decrease over time as the overall snowpack diminishes, the ones that do occur could become more intense due to climate change.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Dark money significantly weakens democracy.—
Willie Wilson,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
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Even as the wealth tax debate weakens Khanna’s support among Silicon Valley heavyweights, this may not be enough to unseat him, Maviglio said, noting the tax would affect fewer than 250 people in the state.—
Julia Shapero,
The Hill,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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As tree pollen subsides, grass pollen will ramp up, and then ragweed storms will be coming during the fall.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
11 Mar. 2026
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While a panic attack subsides eventually, the anxiety-like feeling that precedes a heart attack won’t go away and may even increase in intensity over time.—
Nadine Avola,
Flow Space,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Haldea cautioned that the secondary market could struggle to absorb a large wave of redemptions if investor sentiment deteriorates sharply.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
17 Mar. 2026
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The turtle slows, more organisms attach, and the animal’s condition deteriorates.—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Carmelia, the Westminster mayor, says there is nothing to do but hope that the supply side of the water ledger eases up after the start of spring on Friday.—
John Aguilar,
Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2026
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As for Toth adjusting to the academic lifestyle at MIT, the school eases in freshmen during the first semester.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lessens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lessens. Accessed 23 Mar. 2026.
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