decrease 1 of 2

1
2

decrease

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb decrease differ from other similar words?

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

slowly decreased the amount of pressure

When would abate be a good substitute for decrease?

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

the storm abated

When could diminish be used to replace decrease?

While the synonyms diminish and decrease are close in meaning, diminish emphasizes a perceptible loss and implies its subtraction from a total.

his visual acuity has diminished

When can dwindle be used instead of decrease?

Although the words dwindle and decrease have much in common, dwindle implies progressive lessening and is applied to things growing visibly smaller.

their provisions dwindled slowly

When is it sensible to use lessen instead of decrease?

The words lessen and decrease can be used in similar contexts, but lessen suggests a decline in amount rather than in number.

has been unable to lessen her debt

When might reduce be a better fit than decrease?

While in some cases nearly identical to decrease, 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 decrease
Verb
Among the regular drinkers, weekly alcohol intake decreased by 68%, from approximately 23 units of alcohol to around 8 units. Shiv Sudhakar, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2025 Studies suggest adequate selenium levels can decrease your risk for breast, lung, esophageal, gastric, and prostate cancer, though more research is needed to establish this connection better.3 3. Kathleen Ferraro, Verywell Health, 19 May 2025
Noun
The city has seen a 19% decrease in fatal crashes this year, although the number of pedestrians killed by motor vehicles has increased slightly, cops said. Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 17 May 2025 This is a significant decrease compared to prior years when multiple filings made up a larger share of total registrations. Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for decrease
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decrease
Verb
  • Their original sentences, which were 12 years and seven years, respectively, were reduced in September 2023.
    Esther Kang, People.com, 28 May 2025
  • With Bayern aiming to reduce their wage bill, the Wirtz signing would have come at the cost of at least an extra €20million (£16.8m, $22.7m) per year, on top of a transfer fee somewhere between €100m and €150m.
    Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 28 May 2025
Verb
  • But missing those goals doesn’t diminish the importance of potentially revising the target, for which the Paris Agreement includes a review mechanism, Stokes said.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 21 May 2025
  • Keep clear of puddles - Driving through puddles or low rainwater areas can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 21 May 2025
Noun
  • The order to reorganize the NRC will include significant staff reductions but is not intended to fire NRC commissioners who lead the agency.
    Matthew Daly, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025
  • The bill, which passed the House Thursday by one vote, makes big reductions in Medicaid, called Medi-Cal in California.
    David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 23 May 2025
Verb
  • Luckily, the experience trumped inhaling the intense stench, which eventually subsided.
    Elizabeth Ayoola, Essence, 16 May 2025
  • This new poll, and others, suggest voters' concerns over the economy may be subsiding.
    Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 May 2025
Noun
  • But there are also other factors contributing to the job decline, such as price compression caused by oversupply, which has forced many operators to cut costs, including labor expenses.
    Dario Sabaghi, Forbes.com, 26 May 2025
  • That's when crossings at the border first began their sharp decline, a trend that accelerated after Trump took office.
    Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 26 May 2025
Verb
  • More: Stocks fall, Dow down 800 points as bonds tank amid tax debate.
    Riley Beggin, USA Today, 23 May 2025
  • Long-term Treasuries fell further Thursday; and yields, which trade in opposite direction to prices, continued to surge.
    David Goldman, CNN Money, 22 May 2025
Noun
  • Rub it with a few drops of oil before putting it away to maintain the nonstick seasoning long term.
    Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 25 May 2025
  • Except for a drop last year to 495 people, deaths of homeless people have risen steadily for at least a decade.
    Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 May 2025
Verb
  • Babies love latching onto the soft, squishy silicone, easing the transition from breast- to bottlefeeding, and the anti-colic valve means there will be fewer burps.
    Toby Rose, Parents, 22 May 2025
  • And deficit hawks may be happy to cut back on green-energy projects and rural-hospital funding pots of money, but that won’t ease the sting of this bill’s overall price tag.
    Philip Elliott, Time, 22 May 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Decrease.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decrease. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on decrease

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!