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
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in diminished
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lessened
Eric Siegel, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
There were initial fears of Richard possibly losing his leg, but these were quickly lessened as the surgery went on, Grotakku said.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
As though the word defined or lessened their degree of responsibility.
—Uriel Kon
september 2, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025
This component is meant to kick in once the pain has lessened.
—Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025
Knox said that his agency over her life lessened upon meeting him.
—Nicole Briese, People.com, 23 Aug. 2025
Our resolve to prosecute crime is not lessened by defective DC code statutes, as the DOJ works to change those statutes.
—Alexander Mallin, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2025
Some of that has lessened as residents have become more ecologically conscious, especially along the Waukegan River which flows eastward to Lake Michigan.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
Fire behavior lessened Monday because of lighter winds, Thompson said.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
For example, with credit card fraud detection, the cost for each undetected fraudulent transaction might be lessened if the bank has fraud insurance or if the bank's enforcement activities recoup some fraud losses downstream.
—Eric Siegel, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
There were initial fears of Richard possibly losing his leg, but these were quickly lessened as the surgery went on, Grotakku said.
—Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 4 Sep. 2025
As though the word defined or lessened their degree of responsibility.
—Uriel Kon
september 2, Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025
This component is meant to kick in once the pain has lessened.
—Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Money, 26 Aug. 2025
Knox said that his agency over her life lessened upon meeting him.
—Nicole Briese, People.com, 23 Aug. 2025
Our resolve to prosecute crime is not lessened by defective DC code statutes, as the DOJ works to change those statutes.
—Alexander Mallin, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2025
Some of that has lessened as residents have become more ecologically conscious, especially along the Waukegan River which flows eastward to Lake Michigan.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 20 Aug. 2025
Fire behavior lessened Monday because of lighter winds, Thompson said.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 12 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lessened
Verb
-
Among other policy changes, the bill brought back 2017 tax cuts, increased funding for deportation efforts and reduced who is eligible for Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).—
Avalon Hester,
PEOPLE,
12 Sep. 2025
-
However, the length of time the computer takes to respond is within the designer's control, and its perception can be reduced by giving prompt and accurate feedback, even if the operation's actual execution time is longer.—
Cameron Kaiser,
ArsTechnica,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The study led by Phillips that published last year found that the vaccine reduced signs of chlamydia during a koala's breeding age and decreased death from the disease by 64%.—
Chandelis Duster,
NPR,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Darrow says the orchard’s acreage has decreased by half, mirroring the state’s overall decline since 2000.—
Mark Dent,
HubSpot,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Childhood illnesses had severely weakened her own heart.—
Ruchi Kumar,
NPR,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Since then, the legal safeguards against such encounters have weakened.—
Sydney Barragan,
Oc Register,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Even if military victory in the conventional sense remains uncertain, Russia has been diminished in ways that extend far beyond the battlefield.—
Ken Silverstein,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The result can mean fatigue, irritability and diminished mental focus for the individual tasked with working in the heat.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
But the relations have deteriorated significantly since the start of the war in Gaza, with Israeli officials voicing growing anger at Qatar, accusing the government of harboring Hamas and not putting enough pressure on it to agree to a ceasefire.—
Oren Liebermann,
CNN Money,
11 Sep. 2025
-
The Republican president returned to office in January promising to reinvigorate relations with Netanyahu that had deteriorated under his Democratic predecessor.—
Gram Slattery,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Guiducci arrives at a moment when some of that anger has subsided, and the punch-drunk culture seems counterintuitively eager to escape into nostalgia and tastemaking, splashy profiles, and — just sometimes — confrontational journalism.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
25 Aug. 2025
-
Employees said the mold problem still hadn’t subsided as of early this year.—
Olivia Evans,
The Courier-Journal,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
In Nero’s time, stepping onto the stage degraded the emperor’s role.—
Chris Schembra,
Rolling Stone,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Long-term drought has degraded the old-growth forest where the squirrels live.—
John Leos,
AZCentral.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Roberts did a masterful job of handling his bullpen to make up for the depleted rotation.—
John Perrotto,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
How will Mazzulla coach this depleted roster?—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lessened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lessened. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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