lessens

verb

present tense third-person singular of lessen
1
as in reduces
to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent we lessened our efforts as it became clear they weren't having an effect

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decreases
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 degrades
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

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 lessens An elevated risk of rip currents can be expected through noon, before the threat of rip currents lessens this afternoon. — Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 22 Aug. 2026 While the new proposal slightly lessens the total match inventory, a far greater percentage of those games – 19 of 23 each season – will be true single-elimination encounters. — Ian Nicholas Quillen, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 Coconut oil has approximately 65% MCTs, while MCT oil supplements have 100%, which lessens the health benefits of consuming only MCTs. — Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Aug. 2026 Your shoulders, ears and hips should be aligned, which lessens the pressure on your lumbar vertebrae. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 31 July 2026 This lessens the chance of fungal diseases and betters airflow and light exposure to all parts of the plant. — Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 18 July 2026 For greater tensile strength, the Bluesign partner is using looms from Muller and Kyang Yhe to create webbing with an even density that lessens the amount the material lengthens when under tension. — Sarah Jones, Footwear News, 6 July 2026 Unfiltered water, Adams insists, leads to sediment buildup in your water heater, which shortens its lifespan and lessens its heating efficiency. — Quincy Bulin, Southern Living, 28 June 2026 But unfortunately, unable to keep his trademark goofiness in check, director Taika Waititi lessens its impact, with pioneer Jaiyah Saelua (Kaimana) — the first and still the only trans player to compete at such a level — in particular, done dirty. — Jon O'Brien, Vulture, 26 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lessens
  1. reduces
  2. decreases
  3. degrades
  4. diminishes
  5. weakens
  6. subsides
  7. deteriorates
  8. eases
Verb
  • At the center, a Geometric CNC Fuller visually reduces the mass of the blade while reinforcing Razorbill's distinctive multi-faceted character.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Sep. 2026
  • The powertrain also recaptures waste energy; the ThermAssist heat management system boosts range by 7 percent and reduces the amount of energy needed to heat the car by 40 percent.
    — Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of reduces
Verb
  • Fertility in women decreases gradually but significantly at age 32 and rapidly after 37, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
    — Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
  • While passengers often remain seated for hours at a time, crew spend the majority of the flight on their feet, which decreases their chances of stiffness.
    — Sophia Dyer, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of decreases
Verb
  • The team also did impedance measurements to find out how fast the protection degrades.
    — Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Because the watermark degrades with more thorough editing or in shorter samples of text, its usefulness may also be uneven depending on the department or assignment.
    — Christopher Rim, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of degrades
Verb
  • Violence diminishes its victims, forcing everyone to play a single thankless role.
    — Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Once the journey time increases, the value proposition diminishes and the project is less likely to succeed.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of diminishes
Verb
  • Siegel noted that measles weakens the immune system and increases the risk of pneumonia, which can stem from measles itself or from a secondary bacterial infection.
    — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Employment has been a mostly resilient area of the economy even as stubborn inflation continues to squeeze businesses and households, while consumer confidence weakens.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of weakens
Verb
  • Still, the entire curve has shifted lower as volatility generally subsides.
    — Oliver Renick, CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026
  • When the storm subsides, the Pogues use Kiara’s coordinates and Pope’s calculations to return to the water and search for the gold.
    — Kelly Allen, PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of subsides
Verb
  • Production volumes may remain high over a short period, even as supply security deteriorates.
    — Kari Stoever, Footwear News, 26 Aug. 2026
  • As the charging system deteriorates, electronic features may stop working properly.
    — Michael Kurko, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of deteriorates
Verb
  • But for one weekend later in the summer, that feeling of loss eases for this group.
    — Hannah Keyser, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026
  • But even a partial display of fall foliage is quite breathtaking here, and arriving before the busiest foliage weekends also eases competition for popular trailheads and scenic overlooks.
    — Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of eases

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Cite this Entry

“Lessens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lessens. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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