as in diminished
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1
as in reduced
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decreased
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 weakened
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 lessened
Ty Kaplan, Dallas Morning News, 2 Jan. 2026
An overloaded dryer leads to lessened airflow and, therefore, extended dry time.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Dec. 2025
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 9 Jan. 2026
The 2005 visual was largely similar, but lessened the amount of protein recommended and added an icon representing physical activity.
—Kristen Rogers, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026
Neither player is a prolific shot-maker from long range, but Green’s dwindling speed advantage is further lessened when he is guarded by power forwards rather than centers on dribble handoffs.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 7 Jan. 2026
Cruz alleges in his letter to Johnson that Boardman lessened Roske’s sentence by 22 years out of concern Roske over his gender identity.
—Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 7 Jan. 2026
The 12-team format hasn't lessened the sting for programs kept out of the bracket.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
Before the pandemic, the annual box office would regularly hit $11 billion, but the post-pandemic goal has lessened to $9 billion.
—Lindsey Bahr, Fortune, 24 Nov. 2025
Bitcoin on Thursday declined to levels not seen since April 21 , amid a broader market pullback that saw investors rake in profits from risk-on assets as hopes of an upcoming Federal Reserve interest rate cut lessened .
—Pia Singh, CNBC, 20 Nov. 2025
That lessened the attention — and pressure — on lawmakers to negotiate a way to reopen the government.
—Mike Lillis, The Hill, 5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
After taking a lessened role in 2025, Texas Tech cornerback Maurion Horn will enter the transfer portal with one year of eligibility remaining, per multiple reports.
—Verb
In any case, there’s cause for celebration now, as some 100,000 children will be covered in the initial implementation, which means tens of thousands of families that will have a significant burden lessened.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for lessened
Verb
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While many areas are seeing visibility reduced to between one and three miles, patchy dense fog is reducing visibilities to as low as one quarter mile in spots.—
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Unable to turn back against the strong currents of the Napo, the party, now reduced to just 50, carried on downriver toward the Amazon.—
Verb
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Content licensing revenues decreased 27% to $59 million primarily due to the timing and availability of deliveries in the period.—
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The median sale price for detached homes remained flat at $650,000, while attached homes decreased by 3% to $388,220.—
Verb
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With some estimates putting wave heights as much as 35 feet, weakened hatch covers would have been vulnerable to such waves.—
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The years of horrific violence have weakened Sudan, plunging its institutions into chaos and making its population more vulnerable and poorer.—
Adjective
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In Stoddart’s estimation, the best way to freeze these semi-consumed cakes is in slices.—
Verb
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Davie’s successor will inherit an organization wrestling with its place in a media ecosystem dominated by overseas tech giants, as well as battling enemies closer to home, with conservative politicians and media proprietors wishing to see the BBC diminished during charter renewal.—
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The war diminished Iran’s deterrence capability and exposed the regime’s weakness.—
Verb
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At the time, Denver’s Landmark Preservation office told the Denver Gazette that the old neon was too deteriorated to restore.—
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The already-frosty relationship between Devers and the front office deteriorated to an irreparable level in May, when Triston Casas suffered a season-ending knee injury.—
Adjective
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Charlotte outrebounded Chicago 52-43 while playing with a depleted frontcourt.—
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The Hornets outrebounded the Bulls 52-43 while playing with a depleted frontcourt.—
Verb
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In the two weeks since the Justice Department failed to fully meet a legal deadline to release its expansive tranche of files on Jeffrey Epstein, old conspiracy theories about his life and death have subsided and new ones have taken shape.—
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As entheogenic effects subsided, the digital-age healer pulled out her iPhone and showed me photos from her recent trip home.—
Cite this Entry
“Lessened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lessened. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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