Synonyms of reduce

reduce

verb

ri-ˈdüs 

1

as in to demote

to bring to a lower grade or rank

was reduced from team captain to team member as punishment for his misbehavior on the court

Synonyms & Similar Words

• demote
• degrade
• downgrade
• dismiss
• bust
• can
• sack
• break
• disrate
• downsize
• lay off
• fire
• lower
• humiliate
• debase
• demean
• abase
• humble
• cashier

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• promote
• raise
• advance
• elevate
• hire

2

as in to decrease

to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent

you'll have to reduce the amount of money you spend on unnecessary purchases if you want to have any money left for retirement

Synonyms & Similar Words

• decrease
• lower
• deplete
• diminish
• minimize
• ease
• lessen
• slash
• cut
• compress
• drop
• downsize
• dent
• abate
• shrink
• dwindle
• shorten
• knock down
• trim
• pare
• de-escalate
• downscale
• modify
• curtail
• modulate
• constrict
• cut down
• truncate
• condense
• prune
• abridge
• cut back
• whittle
• abbreviate
• retrench
• contract
• crop
• dock
• nick
• clip
• moderate
• deflate
• qualify

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• increase
• expand
• augment
• raise
• boost
• enlarge
• amplify
• escalate
• extend
• swell
• prolong
• inflate
• lengthen
• add (to)
• blow up
• enhance
• dilate
• supplement
• complement
• elongate
• aggrandize
• intensify
• heighten
• distend
• protract
• redouble

3

as in to lower

to diminish the price or value of

a mortgage crisis that reduced homes to their lowest level in a decade

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lower
• depress
• sink
• attenuate
• shrink
• devalue
• break
• cheapen
• devaluate
• write off
• write down
• depreciate
• downgrade
• mark down
• compress
• lessen
• underestimate
• debase
• moderate
• undervalue
• underrate
• demonetize
• downsize
• abridge
• dwindle
• deflate
• underprice
• contract
• de-escalate

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• enhance
• appreciate
• upgrade
• mark up
• increase
• inflate
• blow up
• add
• maximize
• overestimate
• expand
• extend
• augment
• raise
• boost
• heighten
• multiply
• amplify
• enlarge
• bloat
• escalate
• swell
• compound
• dilate
• overrate
• up
• overvalue
• aggrandize
• overprice
• balloon

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb reduce differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of reduce are abate, decrease, diminish, dwindle, and lessen. While all these words mean "to grow or make less," reduce implies a bringing down or lowering.

you must reduce your caloric intake

When would abate be a good substitute for reduce?

The synonyms abate and reduce are sometimes interchangeable, but abate implies a reducing of something excessive or oppressive in force or amount.

the storm abated

Where would decrease be a reasonable alternative to reduce?

The meanings of decrease and reduce largely overlap; however, decrease suggests a progressive decline in size, amount, numbers, or intensity.

slowly decreased the amount of pressure

When can diminish be used instead of reduce?

While the synonyms diminish and reduce are close in meaning, diminish emphasizes a perceptible loss and implies its subtraction from a total.

his visual acuity has diminished

In what contexts can dwindle take the place of reduce?

In some situations, the words dwindle and reduce are roughly equivalent. However, dwindle implies progressive lessening and is applied to things growing visibly smaller.

their provisions dwindled slowly

When is lessen a more appropriate choice than reduce?

The words lessen and reduce are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, lessen suggests a decline in amount rather than in number.

has been unable to lessen her debt

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of reduce

To clamp down on future legal costs, the department last year brought back a former senior official, Arif Alikhan — at a monthly salary of $20,000, paid for by a private donation — to study how to reduce the number of costly lawsuits. — Sean Greene, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026

While long-term remediation may require substantial investment and specialist expertise, immediate interventions can reduce risks while more complex work is being completed. — Mayu Saini, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026

It can also be equipped with an SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) system that reduces nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by up to 70 percent to meet IMO Tier III regulations. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026

Nebraska’s 2026 Water Quality and Quantity Task Force identified the need to reduce nitrate concentrations in groundwater and protect our water resources for the long term. — Jesse E. Stanley, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026