reduce

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 President Donald Trump on Friday put the odds of striking a trade deal with Europe to reduce the tariff rate on their imports at 50-50, even as diplomats from the trading bloc have expressed optimism in recent days that an agreement could be near. Arkansas Online, 26 July 2025 Indianapolis will serve as one of five U.S. Department of Agriculture hubs as the federal agency reduces and reorganizes its workforce under President Donald Trump's administration. Kaitlin Lange, IndyStar, 26 July 2025 Failure to follow instructions could reduce the product's effectiveness, damage specific surfaces, and increase potential health risks to humans and pets. Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 July 2025 The ban aims to improve academic achievement, reduce cyberbullying, and minimize classroom disruptions. Ruby Grisin, The Courier-Journal, 26 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for reduce
Recent Examples of Synonyms for reduce
Verb
  • Fernandez struggled with the big league club in April, posting an 11.42 ERA over 11 appearances before being demoted to Memphis.
    Katie Woo, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2025
  • Her own beloved father – first a bank manager, then demoted to bank clerk – had drunk himself to death when Travers was only eight years old.
    Matthew Scogin, Forbes.com, 31 July 2025
Verb
  • The three main causes of hydroplaning are: Vehicle speed - When a vehicle's speed increases, the tire-traction grip and ability to control the vehicle decreases.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 31 July 2025
  • The folate in avocado also aids in controlling serotonin and dopamine levels, which can decrease risk of depression.
    Sheah Rarback, Miami Herald, 31 July 2025
Verb
  • Poor sizing can result in uneven temperatures, higher utility bills, potentially shorter equipment lifespan, and degraded indoor air quality.
    Brynn Cooksey, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
  • The city has earmarked money, some $91 million, but not for a targeted effort to stop the opioid crisis from degrading the quality of life for Boston residents.
    Boston Herald editorial staff, Boston Herald, 29 July 2025
Verb
  • That had the effect of depressing GDP in January, February and March, because imports are subtracted from the government's measure of economic activity.
    Scott Horsley, NPR, 30 July 2025
  • Although ships on that route may be set for a decline, the overall increase in ships out at sea are another factor in depressing the rates.
    Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 28 July 2025
Verb
  • Previously, the district offered free lunches to all students, using federal grant money that has now been depleted.
    Lauren Brensel, Sun Sentinel, 30 July 2025
  • Because carbohydrate stores are depleted, the levels of sugar in the blood are low, which can cause fatigue, lightheadedness or dizziness.
    Michal Ruprecht, NPR, 29 July 2025
Verb
  • Here, the single largest piece of Earth’s crust, called the Pacific Plate, is sinking beneath the Okhotsk Plate: a smaller, vaguely triangular shard of continental crust wedged between the Pacific, Eurasian, and North American Plates.
    Kiona N. Smith, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025
  • Take a look at a clip of Wesley sinking his teeth deeply into one bit of dialogue while surrounded by pop art colors, papier-mache props, and beehive hairdos below.
    Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 30 July 2025
Verb
  • Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 1 Aug. 2025
  • Keep clear of puddles - Driving through puddles or low rainwater areas can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 1 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The Tilt control adjusting both ends of the frequency spectrum together, either attenuating the bass and lifting the treble or lifting the bass and attenuating the treble in 1dB steps.
    Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
  • However, for the highly engaged workaholics, this health impairment process was markedly attenuated.
    Ellen Choi, Forbes.com, 16 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Reduce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reduce. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.

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