Synonyms for lessen

Most common

diminish · reduce · decrease · minimize

All synonyms

Verb

Antonyms

increase, heighten, abet

All antonyms of lessen →

Definitions

1. v. 1

   To make less; to diminish; to reduce.

Forms

Past participle

lessened
e.g. lessened → diminished, reduced, decreased, minimized…

Example sentences

• lower Being less urgent, this plan is lower in priority.
• decrease A significant decrease in temperature is expected.
• minimize I want to minimize the chances of another accident.
• diminish This doesn't give him the right to diminish Muslims.
• subside She waited nervously for his anger to subside.

Popularity over time

Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.

By length

4 letters

ease¹

5 letters

lower², limit², blunt¹, allay², abate²

6 letters

reduce², shrink¹, weaken², soften², impair², minify

7 letters

decline², relieve², shorten², degrade², curtail², subside², assuage², dwindle²

8 letters

decrease², minimize³, diminish³, mitigate³, minimise

9 letters

alleviate⁴, attenuate⁴

14 letters

lilliputianize

The small number after each word is its number of syllables (lower² = 2 syllables).

In other languages

Français

amoindrir