1
as in to reduce
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to decrease
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually
the pain should begin to lessen within minutes of taking the medication
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to degrade
to lower in character, dignity, or quality
blatant hypocrisy that lessened him in the eyes of the voters
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lessen
Trump appears interested in shifting back to a Monroe Doctrine-era stance, as well as lessening global importance of countries like Russia, China and Iran, the analyst said.
—
Alex Harring, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
Unfiltered water, Adams insists, leads to sediment buildup in your water heater, which shortens its lifespan and lessens its heating efficiency.
—Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 3 Jan. 2026
But it was significantly stripped down at the last minute, lessening its likely impact.
—Adi Robertson, The Verge, 1 Jan. 2026
However, a home warranty with Complete Protection will at least lessen the financial burden and provide reliable technician support.
—Alora Bopray, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lessen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lessen
Verb
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During his January 2025 State of the State address, Little called for tax cuts that could reduce the state’s general fund by about $100 million.—
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To reduce sizes, builders are going back to open floor plans with fewer hallways.—
Verb
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Newsom claims homelessness decline Newsom during his final State of the State address Thursday claimed the state’s homeless population decreased last year.—
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Meanwhile, the number of job openings have decreased nearly 10% on the year to 729,000 in the September to November period from a year ago, the ONS found.—
Verb
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His mother previously told the Observer that his mental health degraded in the COVID-19 pandemic.—
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The information ecosystem is degrading more each moment.—
Verb
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Still seething after a sloppy 19-16 loss to the Detroit Lions, Johnson wasn’t hiding his dissatisfaction with a defeat that seemed to diminish his team’s momentum.—
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Kaufman moved there 30 years ago, and since that time the island’s community has diminished by degrees, its youth lured away by better employment prospects in Provo and overseas.—
Verb
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Evergreen branches bent under the weight of snow are already weakened; sweeping down the length of the branch toward the ground adds to the stress and increases the potential for breakage.—
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These policies impose devastating costs on American citizens, weakening our economy, increasing the national debt, straining public budgets and tearing families apart.—
Verb
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Mariners traversing the bar are urged to exercise extreme caution or stay in port until the threat subsides.—
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These findings have prompted the development of interventions designed to create time and space between an individual’s suicidal impulse and access to firearms, allowing acute urges to subside.—
Verb
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The price of gold, long understood to be the investor’s refuge against a deteriorating dollar, is sounding an alarm.—
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When those conditions are absent, performance deteriorates quickly.—
Verb
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Those sums would likely be diluted, given baseball teams carry 26 players and NBA teams carry up to 15, but money is still money.—
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Just be sure to dilute it with a carrier oil like coconut or almond oil before massaging it into sore spots.—
Cite this Entry
“Lessen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lessen. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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