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
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lessen
There is a balance between each person wanting to push herself; no one wants to be responsible for holding others back or lessening the experience.
—
Jesse James McTigue, Outside Online, 20 Mar. 2025
Since the oil price shock of 2014, however, many of those economies have implemented structural reforms and diversification programs in a bid to lessen their dependence on oil revenue.
—Natasha Turak, CNBC, 14 Mar. 2025
Ideal for the ultimate no-makeup makeup look, for which Westman is known, the innovative blush harnesses biomimicry pigment technology, which lessens the risk of inflammation by encapsulating the synthetic pigments in the blush.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 18 Mar. 2025
Poor diet linked to severe measles disease Kennedy has claimed that poor nutrition plays a role in causing severe measles disease and that a healthy diet can lessen severity.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lessen
Jesse James McTigue, Outside Online, 20 Mar. 2025
Since the oil price shock of 2014, however, many of those economies have implemented structural reforms and diversification programs in a bid to lessen their dependence on oil revenue.
—Natasha Turak, CNBC, 14 Mar. 2025
Ideal for the ultimate no-makeup makeup look, for which Westman is known, the innovative blush harnesses biomimicry pigment technology, which lessens the risk of inflammation by encapsulating the synthetic pigments in the blush.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 18 Mar. 2025
Poor diet linked to severe measles disease Kennedy has claimed that poor nutrition plays a role in causing severe measles disease and that a healthy diet can lessen severity.
—Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lessen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lessen
Verb
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This has, among other losses, reduced Egyptian revenue from the Suez Canal by about eight hundred million dollars a month.—
Bernard Avishai,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2025
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Standardization can also reduce due diligence burdens.—
The Sorenson Impact Institute,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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However, their wage bills only decreased by 28 per cent.—
Matt Slater,
New York Times,
2 Apr. 2025
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In terms of a mechanism, the rejection seems to decrease levels of a neuropeptide in the brain, which increases after mating, leading Heberlein et al.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Thimerosal degrades into ethylmercury, which was judged not to be a danger at the level that would come from a vaccine.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Apr. 2025
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The quality degrades a bit after the sun goes down.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
29 Mar. 2025
Verb
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As time went on, her pain diminished, but August decided to go to the emergency room.—
Vanessa Etienne,
People.com,
3 Apr. 2025
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The VMAs, which have seen their social capital diminish over the past few years, delivered a promising ceremony in 2024.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
3 Apr. 2025
Verb
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One way that could happen would be for foreign countries to weaken their currency to make the same product cheaper in dollars for tariff purposes, without raising the end cost to the consumer.—
Brendan Coffey,
Sportico.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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More broadly, consumer sentiment has declined and retail sales growth has weakened, reflecting the uncertainty of customers over where the economy is headed.—
Harry Holzer,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The swelling in the area never subsided, prompting surgery to clean up bone spurs that had traveled dangerously close to his Achilles tendon.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
1 Apr. 2025
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The rain, expected to begin late Sunday, will subside by Monday afternoon, but below-average temperatures will hang around all week, according to the National Weather Service.—
Seema Mehta,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Mar. 2025
Verb
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And regardless of today’s numbers, the labor market could deteriorate very quickly amid Trump’s new tariffs, according to Yardeni Research.—
Josh Fellman,
Quartz,
4 Apr. 2025
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Additionally, inspectors said, grout had deteriorated between floor tiles at the cook’s line.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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To take apple cider vinegar before bed, dilute it in water and drink the mixture 2-3 hours before bed to prevent acid reflux.—
Johna Burdeos,
Health,
7 Apr. 2025
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One of the biggest dangers of giving water to an infant is water intoxication, a condition that occurs when too much water dilutes the concentration of sodium in the blood.—
Jake Parks,
Discover Magazine,
5 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lessen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lessen. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.
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