as in diminished
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Dissimilar Words
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
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
23 Jan. 2026
Mitigators work in the other direction, articulating a spectrum of factors that might support lessened punishment, such as the defendant having no prior criminal record, or acting under significant duress.
—
Literary Hub,
20 Jan. 2026
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.
—
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
Jeremy Rutherford,
New York Times,
1 July 2026
Late 19th and Early 20th Century Most Western states capitalized on the barriers imposed on divorce and lessened their residency requirements to shorten the length of time one had to reside in the state to be able to file for divorce.
—
Patricia Fersch,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Earlier models showed the potential for another tornado outbreak in the Chicago area less than a week after 13 tornado touchdowns were confirmed in the south and southwest suburbs and Northwest Indiana, but a cold front has lessened the threat and pushed it further south.
—
Laura Bannon,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
Late Monday, officials allowed 65% of evacuees to return home, saying the threat of a catastrophic blast from the overheated container at GKN Aerospace had lessened.
—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
26 May 2026
His anxieties about other issues have lessened but this is as strong as ever.
—
R. Eric Thomas,
Denver Post,
18 May 2026
His workload lessened after that, especially with travel taking a toll.
—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
4 May 2026
At the same time, the company’s lofty talk of space exploration beyond the moon, especially of Mars, has notably lessened.
—
Ramin Skibba,
Scientific American,
4 May 2026
Democrats said one of the biggest benefits is that tax increases will likely be lessened in many cities and towns because of the additional funding that the municipalities will receive.
—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
2 May 2026
Adjective
Kuminga then saw a combination of injuries and uneven performances lead to lessened playing time before eventually falling out of the rotation altogether.
—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
23 Jan. 2026
Mitigators work in the other direction, articulating a spectrum of factors that might support lessened punishment, such as the defendant having no prior criminal record, or acting under significant duress.
—
Literary Hub,
20 Jan. 2026
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.
—
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
Verb
As mentioned, Dube, who played last season with the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds, could be an option as a depth center, but that need may have been lessened with McTavish and McMichael.
—
Jeremy Rutherford,
New York Times,
1 July 2026
Late 19th and Early 20th Century Most Western states capitalized on the barriers imposed on divorce and lessened their residency requirements to shorten the length of time one had to reside in the state to be able to file for divorce.
—
Patricia Fersch,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2026
Earlier models showed the potential for another tornado outbreak in the Chicago area less than a week after 13 tornado touchdowns were confirmed in the south and southwest suburbs and Northwest Indiana, but a cold front has lessened the threat and pushed it further south.
—
Laura Bannon,
CBS News,
17 June 2026
Late Monday, officials allowed 65% of evacuees to return home, saying the threat of a catastrophic blast from the overheated container at GKN Aerospace had lessened.
—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
26 May 2026
His anxieties about other issues have lessened but this is as strong as ever.
—
R. Eric Thomas,
Denver Post,
18 May 2026
His workload lessened after that, especially with travel taking a toll.
—
Gary Phillips,
New York Daily News,
4 May 2026
At the same time, the company’s lofty talk of space exploration beyond the moon, especially of Mars, has notably lessened.
—
Ramin Skibba,
Scientific American,
4 May 2026
Democrats said one of the biggest benefits is that tax increases will likely be lessened in many cities and towns because of the additional funding that the municipalities will receive.
—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
2 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lessened
Adjective
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The budget also establishes 22,770 new slots for free or reduced childcare, which Newsom had proposed decreasing.
-
Employees may appreciate the flexibility, but if customers experience slower service, inconsistent support, or reduced responsiveness, the model becomes difficult to sustain.
Verb
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Nearly everyone who has died is believed to be 65 years old or older, because of their more limited ability to cool themselves down due to poor blood flow and decreased ability to sweat.
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According to the Office of the State's Attorney for Harford County, Gaeta drove 371 feet during those 5 seconds and only decreased speed from 53mph to 47mph.
Verb
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But later, when the same image appeared alongside a photo of someone the participant relied on for support, like a partner, parent, or friend, the fear response diminished.
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Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi’s great rival, who is forty-one and diminished, showed the danger of staying too long.
Verb
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Yet finance, policy certainty and infrastructure weakened for the first time in more than a decade.
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Internal fractures, economic decline and public frustration have weakened the movement and opened a new chapter of uncertainty.
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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A little light headedness was the only immediate side effect for a first-timer, but that quickly subsided.
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Early on, Jonah couldn't be indoors during rumbling Florida thunderstorms because the noise reminded Jonah of the collapse, so father and son would take long drives until the storm subsided.
Verb
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Israel and Turkey were once close allies, but ties deteriorated after Erdogan, whose party is rooted in Turkey’s Islamic movement, came to power.
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The situation in Haiti has deteriorated since armed groups took control of most of Port-au-Prince in 2024.
Adjective
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For oil markets, the focus has shifted from immediate supply disruption to the question of how quickly depleted inventories can be rebuilt, Spanjer said.
-
Every match leaves something behind — depleted energy stores, heavy legs, dehydration and a tired mind navigating the emotional rollercoaster of a World Cup.
Cite this Entry
“Lessened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lessened. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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