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
At BofA Annual Healthcare Conference, Martin said Viatris expects that there will be multiple treatments used to manage the disease, which lessens the competitive impact of any new drugs that enter the category.
—
Justin Zacks, CNBC, 4 June 2026
Specifically, retinol smooths fine lines, lessens wrinkle depth, and whittles the appearance of large pores.
—Sophie Wirt, InStyle, 29 May 2026
That his general manager, Dana Brown, is working in the final year of his contract lessens the already slim likelihood of Houston dealing Alvarez.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 28 May 2026
The cold front begins to move east Tuesday as the storm risk lessens, but 57 million people will remain under a slight risk for severe storms capable of hail, wind and tornadoes from southwest Texas to northern New England.
—Kathryn Prociv, NBC news, 18 May 2026
Selecting one-off items for exterior spaces without thinking about existing furnishings or accessories lessens the effect of that new piece.
—Michelle Mastro, The Spruce, 17 May 2026
This problem lessens as more roots grow and the leaves thicken up a little more.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 May 2026
Enlisting kids in home tasks helps teach them valuable life skills and also lessens the load on parents.
—Metro Creative Services, Boston Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
Syndicating the bridge commitments to a larger group of banks lessens the exposure of the deal’s three primary lenders Citibank, Bank of America and Apollo.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 9 Apr. 2026
Justin Zacks, CNBC, 4 June 2026
Specifically, retinol smooths fine lines, lessens wrinkle depth, and whittles the appearance of large pores.
—Sophie Wirt, InStyle, 29 May 2026
That his general manager, Dana Brown, is working in the final year of his contract lessens the already slim likelihood of Houston dealing Alvarez.
—Chandler Rome, New York Times, 28 May 2026
The cold front begins to move east Tuesday as the storm risk lessens, but 57 million people will remain under a slight risk for severe storms capable of hail, wind and tornadoes from southwest Texas to northern New England.
—Kathryn Prociv, NBC news, 18 May 2026
Selecting one-off items for exterior spaces without thinking about existing furnishings or accessories lessens the effect of that new piece.
—Michelle Mastro, The Spruce, 17 May 2026
This problem lessens as more roots grow and the leaves thicken up a little more.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 May 2026
Enlisting kids in home tasks helps teach them valuable life skills and also lessens the load on parents.
—Metro Creative Services, Boston Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
Syndicating the bridge commitments to a larger group of banks lessens the exposure of the deal’s three primary lenders Citibank, Bank of America and Apollo.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 9 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lessens
Verb
-
This degrades your brake system’s stopping power, which reduces the overall safety of your vehicle.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
18 June 2026
-
While magnesium may support a healthy heart, there is no clear evidence that taking magnesium supplements reduces your risk of heart disease or regulates your blood pressure.—
Emmanuella Ogbonna,
Health,
18 June 2026
Verb
-
As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
16 June 2026
-
Forecast confidence decreases somewhat heading into the weekend, but an unsettled pattern appears likely to continue.—
Lauren Bostwick,
CBS News,
15 June 2026
Verb
-
Regular care maintains hygiene by preventing buildup, which degrades fabric and comfort over time.—
Maria Sabella,
The Spruce,
15 June 2026
-
The researchers note that lignin often degrades during extraction, while most current processing methods produce complicated mixtures of chemical compounds rather than simple, high-value molecules suitable for large-scale manufacturing.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
12 June 2026
-
Their sense of contribution diminishes.—
ByBryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
Restricting those channels weakens influence competitors have struggled to match.—
Yinka Adegoke,
semafor.com,
15 June 2026
-
Iran’s government warned that any division at home over the deal weakens its negotiating position, and that those criticizing negotiators are taking aim at a national decision.—
Julia Frankel,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
Then the climax subsides for a lovely coda of strings, accompanied by a denouement in which the now casually clad, contemporary-looking singer smashes up her play set in the apartment where she’s presumably been brooding over all this stuff.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
22 May 2026
-
In fact, transparency mode eventually turns itself off until the wind subsides.—
Mark Knapp,
PC Magazine,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Meetings grow tense, and communication deteriorates.—
Niurys Robaina,
Miami Herald,
4 June 2026
-
There’s less maintenance and less investment in them, so the individual property deteriorates.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Steady structure builds trust and eases big feelings today.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
17 June 2026
-
The day eases toward dusk in warm, unhurried tones.—
David Dickstein,
Oc Register,
17 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lessens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lessens. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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