1
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
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
3
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lessen
The exhibition was fully funded by the institution’s Campaign for Music Education, an initiative focused on lessening music education costs and fostering music’s next generation.
—
Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2025
One study found that gargling green tea helped lessen a cough in heart surgery patients.8 However, the tea did not help with symptoms of hoarseness.
—Julie Marks, Verywell Health, 12 Feb. 2025
For starters, a Heat source denied that Miami ever offered to lessen the number of games in Butler’s original seven-game suspension and denied asking Butler to pay his own way to meet out of town with owner Micky Arison to discuss the issue.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2025
The effort is expected to ease congestion and lessen the stress on control tower personnel; however, it is also expected to increase average delays by 10 minutes.
—Mandy Taheri, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lessen
Cerys Davies, Los Angeles Times, 12 Feb. 2025
One study found that gargling green tea helped lessen a cough in heart surgery patients.8 However, the tea did not help with symptoms of hoarseness.
—Julie Marks, Verywell Health, 12 Feb. 2025
For starters, a Heat source denied that Miami ever offered to lessen the number of games in Butler’s original seven-game suspension and denied asking Butler to pay his own way to meet out of town with owner Micky Arison to discuss the issue.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 7 Feb. 2025
The effort is expected to ease congestion and lessen the stress on control tower personnel; however, it is also expected to increase average delays by 10 minutes.
—Mandy Taheri, Newsweek, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lessen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lessen
Verb
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Guided by billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency, the Trump administration has moved aggressively the past week to fire probationary workers across federal departments and agencies in an effort to drastically reduce the size of the government.—
Joey Garrison,
USA TODAY,
21 Feb. 2025
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Musk, meanwhile, reiterated his overall goal to reduce the deficit by $1 trillion.—
Andre Tartar Bloomberg News (TNS),
arkansasonline.com,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The analysis found spending on metformin, an older first-line oral drug for Type 2 diabetes that's available as a generic, decreased 5% over the five years studied, to $623 million.—
Adriel Bettelheim,
Axios,
25 Feb. 2025
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Unlike widening, which decreases the cost of driving and thus causes demand to rebound, congestion pricing regulates the cost of driving in a particular area or lane to tamp down on traffic, Burris explains.—
Allison Parshall,
Scientific American,
25 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The conspiratorial right aims to degrade the state’s ability to collect taxes, conduct diplomacy, prosecute violations of civil rights, and otherwise carry out its duties.—
Foreign Affairs,
Foreign Affairs,
25 Feb. 2025
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In sum, proper use of AI should be encouraged, as opposed to this case where the D grade appeared to degrade its use.—
Tom Rogers,
Newsweek,
20 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The absence of Ayo Dosunmu — who is dealing with shoulder discomfort from a long-term injury — further diminished the Bulls roster.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2025
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Suitable for all skin types, the face oil hydrates while improving elasticity and diminishing the appearance of fine lines.—
Celia Shatzman,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
Verb
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In the fourth quarter of 2024, WK Kellogg reported net sales of $640 million, a decrease of 1.7% compared to $651 million in the same period in 2023, impacted by a 5.6% volume decline and a 40 basis point headwind from the weakening Canadian dollar.—
Joe Cornell,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
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But the Trump administration's new cuts further weaken a banking watchdog that has been sounding the alarm for years about its decreasing ability to prevent future banking crises.—
Maria Aspan,
NPR,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
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But when Herring gave these patients buprenorphine, their pain and nausea subsided quickly.—
Moises Velasquez-Manoff Robert Petkoff Emma Kehlbeck Zak Mouton,
New York Times,
16 Feb. 2025
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In the case of the San Francisco Bay Area (specifically, Bay Farm Island, Corte Madera, Foster City and San Rafael), the researchers found that the land is subsiding at a rate of more than 0.4 inch each year as a result of sediment compaction.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
13 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Read: The chaos in higher ed is only getting started The situation could deteriorate if current doctoral students start jumping ship.—
Ian Bogost,
The Atlantic,
27 Feb. 2025
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Nearby, at the corner of Jefferson and Washington streets, a deteriorating, 1920s apartment building is slated to be incorporated into an $80 million medical office building.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
26 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Powell recommends adding two to three tablespoons of shampoo to an empty bottle that has a nozzle and diluting it with water.—
Annie Blay,
Allure,
13 Feb. 2025
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Rinse your mouth with tap water after drinking, and reduce the amount of lemon in your drink or dilute it with water. — MELISSA NIEVES, LND, RD, MEDICAL EXPERT BOARD Summary Lemons are full of beneficial nutrients, especially vitamin C.—
Melissa Nieves,
Verywell Health,
12 Feb. 2025
Articles Related to lessen
Cite this Entry
“Lessen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lessen. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.
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