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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lessens
Planning ahead lessens the impact of a power disruption.
—
San Diego Gas & Electric, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2025
Their faith paradoxically lessens in the face of evil, even for Father Karras, trembling in disbelief and dwindling hope the more the demon Pazuzu reveals itself.
—Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
Inez’s healing doesn’t mean a thing if she’s doubled over in pain, which lessens their impact in a particularly heated firefight.
—Jason Fanelli, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
Yes, this may still involve hurt feelings, but the risk of being misunderstood lessens.
—R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 27 Sep. 2025
This degree of control not only lessens supply chain dependencies but also accelerates deployment cycles.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Previous Supreme Court decisions established that the government's concern about corruption lessens if there isn't an opportunity for bribery.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Once the seeds have matured, however, that energy barrier lessens.
—New Atlas, 23 Aug. 2025
Maybe rookie wide receiver Kyle Williams plays great and lessens the need at that position.
—Chad Graff, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
San Diego Gas & Electric, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Nov. 2025
Their faith paradoxically lessens in the face of evil, even for Father Karras, trembling in disbelief and dwindling hope the more the demon Pazuzu reveals itself.
—Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Oct. 2025
Inez’s healing doesn’t mean a thing if she’s doubled over in pain, which lessens their impact in a particularly heated firefight.
—Jason Fanelli, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025
Yes, this may still involve hurt feelings, but the risk of being misunderstood lessens.
—R. Eric Thomas, Mercury News, 27 Sep. 2025
This degree of control not only lessens supply chain dependencies but also accelerates deployment cycles.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Previous Supreme Court decisions established that the government's concern about corruption lessens if there isn't an opportunity for bribery.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Once the seeds have matured, however, that energy barrier lessens.
—New Atlas, 23 Aug. 2025
Maybe rookie wide receiver Kyle Williams plays great and lessens the need at that position.
—Chad Graff, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lessens
Verb
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This enables continuous charging and reduces the need for large onboard batteries.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Nov. 2025
-
As a stocky playmaker who rarely sprints and often reduces the game to walking pace in an increasingly breakneck sport populated by iron men, Cherki’s timing of arrival into English football is where the dichotomy lies.—
Jordan Campbell,
New York Times,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Nobody was questioning it when Salah produced arguably his best season for the club to spearhead Liverpool’s title charge, but when the output decreases and opponents see that flank as a weakness, perceptions change.—
The Athletic's Liverpool staff,
New York Times,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Towing capacity decreases 1,000 pounds to, 4,000 pounds.—
Mark Phelan,
Freep.com,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Her current research focuses on trying to understand how human environmental DNA preserves and degrades in sediment through time — on both long and short timescales.—
Katie Hunt,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The goal is to understand exactly how and why performance degrades over time.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
4 Nov. 2025
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When two parties are aware of a major issue that diminishes an asset and do not inform the third party of that asset, that’s strong grounds for a lawsuit.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Lee was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy at age 2, a degenerative disease that gradually weakens muscles.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
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Unlike some of the burger chain’s peers, Cramer said McDonald’s has immense scale and strength and is making an effort to lower prices as consumer spending weakens.—
Julie Coleman,
CNBC,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Mariners traversing the bar are urged to exercise extreme caution or stay in port until the threat subsides.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
25 Oct. 2025
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Their base case assumes that recovery will resume once uncertainty subsides.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Backyard cast also features Katie MacNichol as Gladys’ daughter Ellen, Alexander Ameen as Ellen’s husband Howard, and William Huffaker as a young painter from Boston named Don Bowman whom Gladys seeks to help even as her mental state deteriorates.—
David L. Coddon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Nov. 2025
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As the situation deteriorates, the United Kingdom, the United States and Germany among others have urged their nationals to leave Bamako.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Knowing and acting on her mom’s wishes eases the burden of last-minute decision-making and prompts Dowd to take early planning into her own hands.—
Alexa Mikhail,
Flow Space,
5 Nov. 2025
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The active noise cancellation eases low rumbles so commutes feel calmer.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lessens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lessens. Accessed 21 Nov. 2025.
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