LESSEN Synonyms: 193 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'lessen' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of lessen are abate , decrease , diminish , dwindle , and reduce . While all these words mean "to grow or make less," lessen suggests a decline in amount rather than in number. // has been unable to lessen her debt

Q: When can 'abate' be used instead of 'lessen'?

The meanings of abate and lessen largely overlap; however, abate implies a reducing of something excessive or oppressive in force or amount. // the storm abated

Q: When is 'decrease' a more appropriate choice than 'lessen'?

The words decrease and lessen are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, decrease suggests a progressive decline in size, amount, numbers, or intensity. // slowly decreased the amount of pressure

Q: In what contexts can 'diminish' take the place of 'lessen'?

Although the words diminish and lessen have much in common, diminish emphasizes a perceptible loss and implies its subtraction from a total. // his visual acuity has diminished

Q: Where would 'dwindle' be a reasonable alternative to 'lessen'?

While the synonyms dwindle and lessen are close in meaning, dwindle implies progressive lessening and is applied to things growing visibly smaller. // their provisions dwindled slowly

Q: When might 'reduce' be a better fit than 'lessen'?

The words reduce and lessen can be used in similar contexts, but reduce implies a bringing down or lowering. // you must reduce your caloric intake

lessen

verb

ˈle-sᵊn

Definition of lessen

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb lessen differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of lessen are abate, decrease, diminish, dwindle, and reduce. While all these words mean "to grow or make less," lessen suggests a decline in amount rather than in number.

has been unable to lessen her debt

When can abate be used instead of lessen?

The meanings of abate and lessen largely overlap; however, abate implies a reducing of something excessive or oppressive in force or amount.

the storm abated

When is decrease a more appropriate choice than lessen?

The words decrease and lessen are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, decrease suggests a progressive decline in size, amount, numbers, or intensity.

slowly decreased the amount of pressure

In what contexts can diminish take the place of lessen?

Although the words diminish and lessen have much in common, diminish emphasizes a perceptible loss and implies its subtraction from a total.

his visual acuity has diminished

Where would dwindle be a reasonable alternative to lessen?

While the synonyms dwindle and lessen are close in meaning, dwindle implies progressive lessening and is applied to things growing visibly smaller.

their provisions dwindled slowly

When might reduce be a better fit than lessen?

The words reduce and lessen can be used in similar contexts, but reduce implies a bringing down or lowering.

you must reduce your caloric intake

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of lessen The companies write in general terms that undercutting affiliates would lessen liquidity and worsen odds for customers, while complaining about the operational burdens the rules would create. — Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 8 Oct. 2026 Palm Beach County has also started taking steps to lessen costs, including cutting 244 positions. — Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 8 Oct. 2026 Nearly the entire state remains in drought conditions, despite fall rain and the season’s first snows in the high country lessening the severity of the aridity. — Elise Schmelzer, Denver Post, 5 Oct. 2026 It's got other features such as Copilot integration to answer questions on the fly, as well as HP Eye Ease, which lessens blue light exposure to make your eyes more comfortable. — George Yang, PC Magazine, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lessen

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lessen

Verb

Sullivan touted his Bycatch Reduction Act, a bill intended to reduce excess fish caught by large commercial trawlers.

— Matthew Choi The Washington Post, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
Energy-absorbing seats are designed to manage forces transmitted to occupants during an impact, potentially reducing injury risks.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of reduce

Verb

The definitive study of feedback, Avraham Kluger and Angelo DeNisi’s meta-analysis of 23,663 observations, found that over a third of feedback interventions decreased performance.

— Zaharia-Gabriel Sidere, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
These include gravitational forces, commonly known as G-forces, that increase or decrease the pressure riders feel on their bodies during rapid acceleration and deceleration.

— Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of decrease

Verb

With so few ancient samples of dodo DNA surviving—and that which does exist having degraded over the centuries—the analytic and number-crunching power of AI is just what’s needed to fill in the genetic blanks.

— Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 14 Oct. 2026
The partnership aims to keep the platform connected when military operations disrupt or degrade individual network links.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of degrade

Verb

But while those will provide short-term relief, the currency is expected to weaken toward the end of the year and mid-2027, and a 100 rupee-per-dollar mark could not be ruled out, strategists said.

— Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2026
However, following his arrest, the owner, Mohammad Khan, blamed this week's rains for weakening one of the roofs, according to police, who said the investigation was still underway.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of weaken

Verb

Winds were expected to subside across much of Northern California on Friday, but gusty conditions were forecast to continue in southern portions of PG&E’s service territory into Saturday morning.

— Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 16 Oct. 2026
But within a couple years, as the pandemic eased and community-police tension subsided, Bolingbrook Police Chief Mike Rompa started using his village purchasing card – known as a p-card – in a different way than others with the same cards.

— Irika Sargent, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of subside

Verb

Such a summit would be unprecedented and deeply alarming to Ukraine’s European allies, particularly as relations between Washington and Kyiv deteriorate.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 19 Oct. 2026
The situation deteriorated further after the outbreak of the Lebanese civil war in 1975.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of deteriorate

Verb

That’s not unusual — industries typically ask for a seat at the table, the better to steer discussions to their benefit and dilute any resulting rules.

— Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
Some French youths, like Lise, are concerned that all the talk about politics or references to the past take away from the present, and dilute the focus of student demands.

— Colette Davidson, Christian Science Monitor, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of dilute

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lessees

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lessened

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Style

“Lessen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lessen. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of lessen

verb

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Synonyms of lessen

verb

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Articles Related to lessen

'Fewer' and 'Less'

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