1
as in reducing
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Relevance
Dissimilar Words
2
as in depreciation
Related Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in weakening
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 lessening
Katie North,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2026
Tehran blames the foreign ministry of Lebanon, particularly foreign minister Youssef Raggi, for the ‘lessening of solidarity with Iran.
—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
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.
—
Barbara Kates-Garnick,
The Conversation,
26 Aug. 2025
Michael R. Sisak,
Chicago Tribune,
28 June 2026
Parts of northern Arizona were without power Saturday as the utility serving the area initiated a safety shutoff in hopes of lessening the wildfire risk.
—
Ty Oneil,
Los Angeles Times,
28 June 2026
Parts of northern Arizona were without power Saturday as the utility serving the area initiated a safety shut-off in hopes of lessening the wildfire risk.
—
ABC News,
27 June 2026
The utility that serves the area initiated a safety outage in hopes of lessening the risk of wildfire in that area.
—
Ty Oneil,
Arkansas Online,
26 June 2026
What are the risks of lessening the barrier to testosterone therapy?
—
Theara Coleman,
TheWeek,
25 June 2026
The move signifies OpenAI's shift towards vertical integration, lessening reliance on general-purpose hardware.
—
Jon Markman,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
At your workstation, this monitor automatically detects lighting changes and adjust the brightness on screen, and also comes with Eye Saver Mode to reduce blue light, lessening eye strain.
—
George Yang,
PC Magazine,
19 June 2026
The drug is designed to rapidly block platelets from clumping and restricting blood flow, lessening the adverse outcomes of a heart attack.
—
Justin Zacks,
CNBC,
4 June 2026
Noun
The good news for the Broadway ticket buyer is that there does not necessarily appear to be a lessening in the quality of these shows, despite their quick turnaround.
—
Katie North,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2026
Tehran blames the foreign ministry of Lebanon, particularly foreign minister Youssef Raggi, for the ‘lessening of solidarity with Iran.
—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
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.
—
Barbara Kates-Garnick,
The Conversation,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
Parts of northern Arizona were without power Saturday as the utility serving the area initiated a safety shut-off in hopes of lessening the wildfire risk.
—
Michael R. Sisak,
Chicago Tribune,
28 June 2026
Parts of northern Arizona were without power Saturday as the utility serving the area initiated a safety shutoff in hopes of lessening the wildfire risk.
—
Ty Oneil,
Los Angeles Times,
28 June 2026
Parts of northern Arizona were without power Saturday as the utility serving the area initiated a safety shut-off in hopes of lessening the wildfire risk.
—
ABC News,
27 June 2026
The utility that serves the area initiated a safety outage in hopes of lessening the risk of wildfire in that area.
—
Ty Oneil,
Arkansas Online,
26 June 2026
What are the risks of lessening the barrier to testosterone therapy?
—
Theara Coleman,
TheWeek,
25 June 2026
The move signifies OpenAI's shift towards vertical integration, lessening reliance on general-purpose hardware.
—
Jon Markman,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
At your workstation, this monitor automatically detects lighting changes and adjust the brightness on screen, and also comes with Eye Saver Mode to reduce blue light, lessening eye strain.
—
George Yang,
PC Magazine,
19 June 2026
The drug is designed to rapidly block platelets from clumping and restricting blood flow, lessening the adverse outcomes of a heart attack.
—
Justin Zacks,
CNBC,
4 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lessening
Noun
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The long answer is that Estée Lauder’s Diamond Moisturizer is hydrating (as all moisturizers should be), firming, tightening, wrinkle-reducing, age spot-fading, and texture-smoothing.
-
Moisturizing, soothing, and redness reducing, Erborian’s CC Cream is the ultimate cult-favorite beauty product.
Noun
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However, a 2025 law restored short-term rental owners’ ability to use 100% bonus depreciation to accelerate this process in the first year of ownership, enabling owners to offset their non-passive income, including W2 or other business income.
-
Three- to five-year-old vehicles can strike a balance between price, depreciation and modern features, though a smaller supply of off-lease vehicles has kept prices higher than many buyers might expect, says Drury.
Verb
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Most of these early mandate states were centered around the Northeast, where viral spread started decreasing as a result of normal season patterns.
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Across the United States, cities are decreasing the number of available psychiatric beds just as demand is surging.
Verb
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Others expressed concerns about diminishing Black voting power.
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Movies Are Good, Actually By Michael O’Donnell A film critic’s new book attacks the medium for diminishing culture.
Verb
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Goldman Sachs predicts a sustained dollar weakening in 2026, driven by fiscal concerns and shifting global asset demand, marking a structural shift rather than a cyclical dip.
-
Ukrainian officials describe the strikes as a campaign to pressure Moscow to end the war by undermining its military logistics and supply lines and weakening its ability to mount assaults along the front.
Noun
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In 2023, Wimbledon joined the other Grand Slam tournaments in shortening matches from five to three sets.
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These large-range movements keep your body moving through the stretch, shortening and lengthening your muscles.
Noun
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Despite the criticism Williams has received for her hiring practices, Beasley-Pittman noted a decrease in the city’s personnel budget growth.
-
Yet, if investments in digital defense hit record highs every year, why doesn't corporate vulnerability decrease?
Verb
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The afternoon started tough until the wind kept subsiding, and players began taking aim at flags.
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Weather service and public safety officials said the safest thing to do is to stay away from the beaches altogether until the southern swells start subsiding.
Cite this Entry
“Lessening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lessening. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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