lessen

verb

less·en ˈle-sᵊn How to pronounce lessen (audio)

lessened; lessening ˈles-niŋ How to pronounce lessen (audio)

ˈle-sᵊn-iŋ

intransitive verb

: to shrink in size, number, or degree : decrease

The pain will lessen over time.

transitive verb

: to reduce in size, extent, or degree

lessen tensions between nations

archaic : to represent as of little value

: to lower in status or dignity : degrade

Example Sentences

Medication helps lessen the severity of the symptoms. we lessened our efforts as it became clear they weren't having an effect

Recent Examples on the Web The deal, the FTC alleges, would lessen competition in the market and violate antitrust laws.

Salvador Rodriguez, WSJ, 27 July 2022 But the move also would confuse customers, lessen demand for standard models and wreck their resale value just like the Lighting port did to older iPhones using the Dock Connector when it was introduced with the iPhone 5 in 2012.

Gordon Kelly, Forbes, 11 June 2022 Gravity acts on all objects equally and there is nothing athletes can do to lessen its effect.

Amy Pope, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Feb. 2022 Among them is how much to pull from the fund where the city is expected to have socked away about $82 million by the end of this year to lessen the effect on city services.

Alison Dirr, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2022 Or your doctor may suggest trying acupuncture or a TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) device, which uses electrical currents to help lessen pain.

Claire Gillespie, Health.com, 19 Jan. 2022 However, evidence suggests these same treatments are losing their effectiveness in the fight against the mutating virus and likely will not work as well to lessen the effect of the disease during the new wave.

Anchorage Daily News, 9 Jan. 2022 Seriously though, silk or satin pillowcases do help lessen frizz and breakage.

Sable Yong, Allure, 29 Dec. 2021 Taking away those top layers will also help lessen concerns like fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, and enlarged pores.

Emily Orofino, Good Housekeeping, 1 Oct. 2021 See More

lessening 1 of 2

noun

as in reducing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

reducing
decreasing
diminishing
shortening
shrinking
curtailment
contraction
compression
abridgment
abruptness
abridgement
shortness
abbreviation
brusqueness
condensation
curtness
tautness
crispness
terseness
brevity
pithiness
laconism
briefness
conciseness
succinctness
minuteness
tininess
compendiousness
smallness
littleness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

extending
prolonging
lengthiness
extensiveness
prolongation
stretching
extension
elongation
growth
elongating
protraction
expansion
diffuseness
spread
bulkiness
largeness
greatness
bigness
prolixity
wordiness
verboseness
garrulousness
volubility
talkativeness
heftiness
talkiness
long-windedness

as in decrease

Synonyms & Similar Words

decrease
depreciation
lowering
diminution
reduction
diminishment
destruction
debasement
abasement
disintegration
ruin
shrinkage
ruination
havoc
decimation
decomposition
crumbling
loss
downturn
dissolution
demolition
decrement
desolation
spoiling
deflation
sag
breakup
demolishment
falloff
slump
decay
deterioration
abatement
dip
degradation
drop
rotting
downslide
dark age
downtrend
slip
ebb
drop-off
decline
degeneration
degeneracy
de-escalation
sunset
devolution
nadir
eclipse
declination
downfall
decadence
downgrade
declension
fall
dégringolade
descent

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

growth
rise
development
advancement
evolution
increase
ascent
upswing
restoration
addition
renewal
flowering
revitalization
enhancement
gain
increment
heightening
boost
flourishing
blossoming
supplement
raise
accrual
accretion
augmentation
addendum

lessening

2 of 2

verb

present participle of lessen

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

reducing
decreasing
diminishing
lowering
easing
minimizing
depleting
dwindling
denting
abating
downsizing
slashing
cutting
downscaling
dropping
compressing
knocking down
curtailing
shrinking
shortening
de-escalating
contracting
constricting
condensing
paring
trimming
abridging
cutting down
whittling
retrenching
modifying
truncating
clipping
nicking
modulating
cropping
pruning
abbreviating
cutting back
moderating
deflating
docking
qualifying

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

increasing
expanding
augmenting
enlarging
escalating
amplifying
boosting
swelling
raising
extending
prolonging
lengthening
inflating
dilating
enhancing
intensifying
supplementing
adding (to)
blowing up
heightening
aggrandizing
complementing
distending
elongating
protracting
redoubling

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

decreasing
diminishing
subsiding
easing
declining
shrinking
falling
vanishing
lowering
ebbing
waning
weakening
moderating
dwindling
receding
tapering
relenting
abating
falling away
palling
tapering off
phasing down
remitting
evaporating
alleviating
letting up
racheting (down)
ratcheting (down)
de-escalating
compressing
dying (away or down or out)
slackening
draining (away)
constricting
contracting
dropping (off)
collapsing
condensing
relaxing
giving out
flagging
sinking
fading (away)
slowing (down)
melting (away)
deflating
frittering (away)
tailing (off)
petering (out)
caving (in)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

increasing
growing
rising
expanding
intensifying
swelling
enlarging
escalating
mounting
building
accumulating
burgeoning
soaring
mushrooming
snowballing
emerging
waxing
appearing
picking up
ballooning
lengthening
bourgeoning
elongating
distending
blowing up
showing up

as in weakening

to lower in character, dignity, or quality blatant hypocrisy that lessened him in the eyes of the voters

Synonyms & Similar Words

weakening
degrading
diluting
deteriorating
corrupting
damaging
subverting
humiliating
poisoning
destroying
debauching
depraving
cheapening
impairing
debasing
ruining
perverting
demeaning
thinning
polluting
marring
harming
vitiating
warping
abasing
bastardizing
contaminating
disgracing
cankering
demoralizing
shaming
prostituting
tainting
hurting
wrecking
humbling
profaning
dirtying
tarnishing
watering down
spoiling
dishonoring
staining
befouling
defiling
depreciating
descending
downgrading
flawing
begriming
blemishing
taking down
defacing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

improving
elevating
enhancing
ameliorating
uplifting
honoring
exalting
amending
enriching
perfecting
restoring
ennobling
respecting
clarifying
refining
cleaning
purifying
dignifying
bettering
cleansing
meliorating

单词	lessening
释义	lessen verb less·en ˈle-sᵊn lessened; lessening ˈles-niŋ ˈle-sᵊn-iŋ intransitive verb : to shrink in size, number, or degree : decrease The pain will lessen over time. transitive verb 1 : to reduce in size, extent, or degree lessen tensions between nations 2 a archaic : to represent as of little value b : to lower in status or dignity : degrade Synonyms abate de-escalate decrease dent deplete diminish downscale downsize drop dwindle ease knock down lower reduce See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Medication helps lessen the severity of the symptoms. we lessened our efforts as it became clear they weren't having an effect Recent Examples on the Web The deal, the FTC alleges, would lessen competition in the market and violate antitrust laws. Salvador Rodriguez, WSJ, 27 July 2022 But the move also would confuse customers, lessen demand for standard models and wreck their resale value just like the Lighting port did to older iPhones using the Dock Connector when it was introduced with the iPhone 5 in 2012. Gordon Kelly, Forbes, 11 June 2022 Gravity acts on all objects equally and there is nothing athletes can do to lessen its effect. Amy Pope, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Feb. 2022 Among them is how much to pull from the fund where the city is expected to have socked away about $82 million by the end of this year to lessen the effect on city services. Alison Dirr, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5 Feb. 2022 Or your doctor may suggest trying acupuncture or a TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) device, which uses electrical currents to help lessen pain. Claire Gillespie, Health.com, 19 Jan. 2022 However, evidence suggests these same treatments are losing their effectiveness in the fight against the mutating virus and likely will not work as well to lessen the effect of the disease during the new wave. Anchorage Daily News, 9 Jan. 2022 Seriously though, silk or satin pillowcases do help lessen frizz and breakage. Sable Yong, Allure, 29 Dec. 2021 Taking away those top layers will also help lessen concerns like fine lines, wrinkles, dark spots, and enlarged pores. Emily Orofino, Good Housekeeping, 1 Oct. 2021 See More Word History First Known Use 14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense Kids Definition lessen verb less·en ˈle-sᵊn lessened; lessening : to make or become fewer or smaller in amount lessening 1 of 2 noun 1 as in reducing Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance reducing decreasing diminishing shortening shrinking curtailment contraction compression abridgment abruptness abridgement shortness abbreviation brusqueness condensation curtness tautness crispness terseness brevity pithiness laconism briefness conciseness succinctness minuteness tininess compendiousness smallness littleness Antonyms & Near Antonyms extending prolonging lengthiness extensiveness prolongation stretching extension elongation growth elongating protraction expansion diffuseness spread bulkiness largeness greatness bigness prolixity wordiness verboseness garrulousness volubility talkativeness heftiness talkiness long-windedness See More 2 as in decrease Synonyms & Similar Words decrease depreciation lowering diminution reduction diminishment destruction debasement abasement disintegration ruin shrinkage ruination havoc decimation decomposition crumbling loss downturn dissolution demolition decrement desolation spoiling deflation sag breakup demolishment falloff slump decay deterioration abatement dip degradation drop rotting downslide dark age downtrend slip ebb drop-off decline degeneration degeneracy de-escalation sunset devolution nadir eclipse declination downfall decadence downgrade declension fall dégringolade descent Antonyms & Near Antonyms growth rise development advancement evolution increase ascent upswing restoration addition renewal flowering revitalization enhancement gain increment heightening boost flourishing blossoming supplement raise accrual accretion augmentation addendum See More lessening 2 of 2 verb present participle of lessen 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 reducing decreasing diminishing lowering easing minimizing depleting dwindling denting abating downsizing slashing cutting downscaling dropping compressing knocking down curtailing shrinking shortening de-escalating contracting constricting condensing paring trimming abridging cutting down whittling retrenching modifying truncating clipping nicking modulating cropping pruning abbreviating cutting back moderating deflating docking qualifying Antonyms & Near Antonyms increasing expanding augmenting enlarging escalating amplifying boosting swelling raising extending prolonging lengthening inflating dilating enhancing intensifying supplementing adding (to) blowing up heightening aggrandizing complementing distending elongating protracting redoubling See More 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 decreasing diminishing subsiding easing declining shrinking falling vanishing lowering ebbing waning weakening moderating dwindling receding tapering relenting abating falling away palling tapering off phasing down remitting evaporating alleviating letting up racheting (down) ratcheting (down) de-escalating compressing dying (away or down or out) slackening draining (away) constricting contracting dropping (off) collapsing condensing relaxing giving out flagging sinking fading (away) slowing (down) melting (away) deflating frittering (away) tailing (off) petering (out) caving (in) Antonyms & Near Antonyms increasing growing rising expanding intensifying swelling enlarging escalating mounting building accumulating burgeoning soaring mushrooming snowballing emerging waxing appearing picking up ballooning lengthening bourgeoning elongating distending blowing up showing up See More 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 weakening degrading diluting deteriorating corrupting damaging subverting humiliating poisoning destroying debauching depraving cheapening impairing debasing ruining perverting demeaning thinning polluting marring harming vitiating warping abasing bastardizing contaminating disgracing cankering demoralizing shaming prostituting tainting hurting wrecking humbling profaning dirtying tarnishing watering down spoiling dishonoring staining befouling defiling depreciating descending downgrading flawing begriming blemishing taking down defacing Antonyms & Near Antonyms improving elevating enhancing ameliorating uplifting honoring exalting amending enriching perfecting restoring ennobling respecting clarifying refining cleaning purifying dignifying bettering cleansing meliorating See More
随便看	at nec mer at no at no charge at no cost at no time at odds at once at one at one fell swoop at one go at one time at one time or another at one with at one's age at one's beck and call at one's door at one's elbow at one's feet at one's fingertips at one's leisure at one's own peril at one's own risk at one's peril at one's wit's end at one's wits' end

lessen

verb

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

verb

noun

verb