REDUCE Synonyms: 119 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

reduce

verb

ri-ˈdüs

Definition of reduce

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

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of reduce The Illinois Tollway plans to reduce backups at the congested nexus by adding lanes to northbound and southbound I-355 in the Downers Grove area as well as ramp improvements. — Marni Pike, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026 Water in the morning so the grass can dry out during the day to reduce the risk of fungal diseases. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 July 2026 Not Deadheading Not deadheading your roses throughout the growing season will cause the plants to put more energy into seed production than new growth and flower development, reducing flower output. — Madeline Buiano, Martha Stewart, 5 July 2026 The system also supports lower-temperature tooling for prototype development, which can reduce tooling costs. — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 5 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for reduce

Recent Examples of Synonyms for reduce

Verb

There was some intrigue about whom the Yankees might demote with Grisham and McMahon returning.

— Chris Kirschner, New York Times, 4 July 2026
But in the process, the department demoted theology, a field that some had targeted for enjoying professional status when nursing did not.

— Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 2 July 2026

Definition of demote

Verb

The Swiss victory over Colombia in Tuesday’s knockout match seemed to depress the market further.

— Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 8 July 2026
The high-pressure system that’s causing temperature spikes, Ciliberti said, is also depressing much of the particulate matter, pushing it closer to the ground.

— Sandra McDonald, Los Angeles Times, 6 July 2026

Definition of depress

Verb

There’s no danger of spontaneous mass illiteracy, but the complex cognitive skills that reading fosters start to degrade.

— Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026
Weather changes, tires degrade, a safety car appears, a driver reports instability or an opponent pits earlier than expected, and the team has seconds to decide whether to stay with the plan or change it.

— Erum Manzoor, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

Definition of degrade

Verb

According to reports, the Social Security retirement trust fund is projected to be depleted in less than 6 years in 2032, and the Medicare’s Hospital Insurance Trust Fund is projected to be depleted in 2033 if Congress fails to act.

— Kaysia Earley, Sun Sentinel, 9 July 2026
However, environmental groups are concerned that satellite re-entries could release ozone-depleting chemicals, a topic scientists say needs more research.

— Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 9 July 2026

Definition of deplete

Verb

Several hours after the meeting began, as the sun began to sink toward the horizon, commissioner Jacob Wurman raised his hand for a point of order.

— Emily Holshouser, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 July 2026
At the same time, the three main actors waited through mounting production delays that threatened to sink Spielberg’s folly.

— Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 9 July 2026

Definition of sink

Verb

Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.

— NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 6 July 2026
The union said that unresolved complaints made against Hawk and existing climate issues have significantly diminished confidence among many educators.

— Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 6 July 2026

Definition of diminish

Verb

In saltwater, conventional signals attenuate between 1 and 10 dB per meter, limiting range to just a few feet.

— Omar Kardoudi June 06, New Atlas, 6 June 2026
And Lawrence’s early death, following the failure of the Barbados therapy for his tuberculosis, attenuated even that.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 May 2026

Definition of attenuate

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red stars

reduce

reduced

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“Reduce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reduce. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of reduce

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