1
as in reducing
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2
as in depreciation
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in decreasing
to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent
we lessened our efforts as it became clear they weren't having an effect
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2
as in diminishing
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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3
as in weakening
to lower in character, dignity, or quality
blatant hypocrisy that lessened him in the eyes of the voters
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lessening
Barbara Kates-Garnick, The Conversation, 26 Aug. 2025
The good news is that GPT-5 will presumably be somewhat less than gushingly friendly, though the lessening might be variable and of a mixed result.
—Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Alex Harring, CNBC, 5 Jan. 2026
But it was significantly stripped down at the last minute, lessening its likely impact.
—Adi Robertson, The Verge, 1 Jan. 2026
If someone is infected with the flu, prescription antiviral drugs can be effective at lessening the severity of symptoms.
—Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 30 Dec. 2025
Loving-kindness and mindful democracy Clinical research shows that loving-kindness meditation has a positive effect on mental health, including lessening anxiety and depression, increasing life satisfaction and improving self-acceptance while reducing self-criticism.
—Jeremy David Engels, The Conversation, 29 Dec. 2025
In Hong Kong, for instance, most people speak Cantonese, an informal and colloquial language that has its own version of a gender-neutral pronoun – lessening the demand for a new character, said Wan, of rights group Gender Empowerment.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 26 Dec. 2025
Some also estimate the mine when fully operational will mean more than 150 trucks per day driving through the rural community, though company officials envision a rail shipment component lessening the truck traffic.
—Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 8 Dec. 2025
My grief at his passing is lessening slightly.
—Jessica B. Harris, Southern Living, 30 Nov. 2025
The Xingyan, or Star Eye, network is designed to help commercial operators reduce collision risks while lessening the country’s reliance on foreign tracking data.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 30 Nov. 2025
Noun
While appearing radical at the time, the revamping of scientific boards to include more industry representatives, the undoing of power plant rules and the lessening of enforcement hobbled but did not completely undo the agency.
—Verb
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.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for lessening
Noun
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Moisturizing, soothing, and redness reducing, Erborian’s CC Cream is the ultimate cult-favorite beauty product.—
Noun
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The currency and rate depreciation has directly impacted what’s available in stores — and at what price.—
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The counterargument is that Porsche 911s tend to experience minimal depreciation anyway, and the Turbo S is no exception.—
Verb
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For women, this meant decreasing intake to about 400 to 600 calories three days per week, while men reduced calories to around 500 to 700.—
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An expensive habit with a decreasing ROI.—
Verb
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Before the night was out, Germans began chipping away at the barrier, carrying off chunks of one of the symbols of the diminishing Iron Curtain.—
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Business leaders say that such policies risk accelerating an exodus of companies, diminishing the city’s commercial tax base, and ultimately affecting services and jobs essential to millions of New Yorkers.—
Verb
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Milk, butter and cheese prices on the wholesale market and at grocery stores have decreased slightly due to oversupply and weakening consumer demand.—
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This suggests consumers enter 2026 with continuing concerns over high prices and weakening labor market conditions.—
Noun
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Managers have tried for years to get control of the runaway meeting train by tightening agendas and shortening sessions.—
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This means brushing a neutral oil or vegetable shortening on the cast iron and baking it upside down in a 375-degree oven.—
Noun
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If funding for health decreases by 20 percent, 12 million more children could die by 2045.—
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The south and southwest suburbs saw a 35% decrease in homicides in 2025 compared to 2024, according to tracking by the Daily Southtown, reflecting a continuing downward trend in recent years.—
Verb
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Beyond the curse of high expectations, other headwinds that weighed on Eaton's shares appear to be subsiding, including capacity expansion.—
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Hurricane conditions are occurring within the warning area in Cuba but expected to begin subsiding this afternoon.—
Cite this Entry
“Lessening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lessening. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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