REDUCIBLE 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 next

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

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 And that might reduce the stress that leads to anger. —

Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 31 Mar. 2026 The agreement allows charges to be reduced after three years, if Paul meets the requirements of her plea deal. —

Los Angeles Times, 30 Mar. 2026 Ashwagandha, for example, is one of the most studied adaptogens for reducing cortisol and improving the body’s stress response. —

Rita Templeton, Flow Space, 30 Mar. 2026 Autonomous vehicles, slated to first operate in Baltimore, are now here, with the potential to significantly reduce the trauma on Maryland roads. —

John Seng, Baltimore Sun, 30 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reduce

Recent Examples of Synonyms for reduce

Verb

After all, his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, demoted him as a working royal but didn’t do much else and provided him with the money to pay a settlement to Virginia Giuffre.

— Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 18 Mar. 2026
Just beware of adding something really wacky—like raisins—or you’ll be put on potluck probation and demoted to plate-and-napkin duty.

— Josh Miller, Southern Living, 14 Mar. 2026

Definition of demote

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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 2 Apr. 2026.

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Synonyms of reduce

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