1
as in reduces
to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent
workers decreased the volume of water flowing through the pipes in order to prevent an overflow
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in diminishes
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually
the force of the wind slowly decreased until the flowers were standing upright again
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in reductions
the amount by which something is lessened
the average decrease in the price of milk was five cents per gallon
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 decreases
Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026
This slightly decreases the total mass of objects in interplanetary space — the material and space between planets — while slightly increasing the masses of the planets themselves.
—Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Hand-washing decreases the chance of a respiratory infection by 16% to 21%.
—Kyle B. Enfield, The Conversation, 28 Mar. 2026
Back then, travel bans and lockdowns led to sharp, worldwide decreases in driving and flying.
—Camila Domonoske, NPR, 27 Mar. 2026
Their value rapidly decreases as they are superseded by the next generation of chips, meaning that the ultimate backstop for all of the data-center debt—selling the data center itself—is not actually a backstop.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
By Friday morning, the severe threat should largely end as storms move east and instability decreases.
—Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 22 Mar. 2026
And recent data from a trial that Cherney is involved in, called REMODEL, show that semaglutide reduces damage to kidney blood vessel linings, decreases the activity of natural killer cells (white blood cells that destroy diseased cells), and increases fat loss from stores surrounding the kidneys.
—Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
The years since have seen decreases in the number of overdose deaths.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2026
And the atmosphere’s thickness increases and decreases with solar activity.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026
Those urban decreases largely stem from a drop in both international and domestic migration, according to census researchers, while the country as a whole also saw a major decline in international migration.
—Trevor Bach, Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
The likelihood that the person will survive decreases steeply as time passes.
—Adeel Khalid, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
In the decision to close, Pouring with Heart (formerly 213 Hospitality) cited near-monthly financial losses that began during the pandemic, then continued with rising costs of labor and insurance, decreases in business due to entertainment-industry strikes and job losses, the 2025 fires and beyond.
—Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
And across the nation, only four states saw decreases in their bills.
—Sasha Allen, Hartford Courant, 21 Mar. 2026
Since67 2024, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has received dozens of residential filings requesting rate decreases or zero-percent increases.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2026
Verb
As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 1 Apr. 2026
This slightly decreases the total mass of objects in interplanetary space — the material and space between planets — while slightly increasing the masses of the planets themselves.
—Big Think, 31 Mar. 2026
Hand-washing decreases the chance of a respiratory infection by 16% to 21%.
—Kyle B. Enfield, The Conversation, 28 Mar. 2026
Back then, travel bans and lockdowns led to sharp, worldwide decreases in driving and flying.
—Camila Domonoske, NPR, 27 Mar. 2026
Their value rapidly decreases as they are superseded by the next generation of chips, meaning that the ultimate backstop for all of the data-center debt—selling the data center itself—is not actually a backstop.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2026
By Friday morning, the severe threat should largely end as storms move east and instability decreases.
—Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 26 Mar. 2026
As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 22 Mar. 2026
And recent data from a trial that Cherney is involved in, called REMODEL, show that semaglutide reduces damage to kidney blood vessel linings, decreases the activity of natural killer cells (white blood cells that destroy diseased cells), and increases fat loss from stores surrounding the kidneys.
—Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
Noun
Many hundreds of millions of public and philanthropic dollars have been flowing into CVI (although The Free Press story feels dated to us, in terms of the significant recent decreases in federal and state funds applied to these initiatives).
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 29 Mar. 2026
The years since have seen decreases in the number of overdose deaths.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2026
And the atmosphere’s thickness increases and decreases with solar activity.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026
Those urban decreases largely stem from a drop in both international and domestic migration, according to census researchers, while the country as a whole also saw a major decline in international migration.
—Trevor Bach, Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
The likelihood that the person will survive decreases steeply as time passes.
—Adeel Khalid, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026
In the decision to close, Pouring with Heart (formerly 213 Hospitality) cited near-monthly financial losses that began during the pandemic, then continued with rising costs of labor and insurance, decreases in business due to entertainment-industry strikes and job losses, the 2025 fires and beyond.
—Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 23 Mar. 2026
And across the nation, only four states saw decreases in their bills.
—Sasha Allen, Hartford Courant, 21 Mar. 2026
Since67 2024, the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation has received dozens of residential filings requesting rate decreases or zero-percent increases.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 15 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decreases
Verb
-
By banning advertising by legal operators during live sporting events and sharply limiting promotions, the proposal drastically reduces the visibility of the regulated market.—
Cláudia Nunes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Technologies such as Revo-Su, which significantly reduces water consumption, and B210, which enables biodegradability in stretch fabrics, are direct outcomes of this focus.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Give ample space to large vehicles - Trucks or buses can create a water spray that diminishes visibility.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Mar. 2026
-
Ned Bair, a research associate at the Earth Research Institute at UC Santa Barbara, said that while the total number of avalanches may decrease over time as the overall snowpack diminishes, the ones that do occur could become more intense due to climate change.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
14 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The funding is ongoing while Colorado challenges the policy in court, but if reductions are made permanent, Mahanan predicts a wave of day care closures, almost overnight.—
Shay Castle,
Denver Post,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Dell said in its 10-K that fiscal 2026 headcount reductions stemmed from employee reorganizations, limits on external hiring, and other cost-alignment measures tied to its business modernization efforts.—
Sheryl Estrada,
Fortune,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As the furor over the October 7th attack and the Gaza war subsides, such gatherings have become easier to organize, several Beth El members told me.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
-
As the air subsides, it is compressed, which warms it up.—
Andrea Thompson,
Scientific American,
20 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Recent easing failed to prevent spending declines in several consumer categories.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
29 Mar. 2026
-
However, the declines are minimal versus their two-year runs.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Support falls somewhat, to 70%, among non-MAGA Republicans.—
Anne Bryson,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Payton’s falls short of Chamberlain Gary Payton II had a chance to equal the feat of one of the game’s greatest players on Friday.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
28 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Add the mochiko, orange juice, sugar, vanilla, and a few drops of vinegar, and stir until a smooth batter forms.—
Kelly McCarthy,
ABC News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Christian wins individual immunity for Purple but drops.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The number of truckers on the road grows when demand is hot and shrinks as the economy cools.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Steady decline of sea ice Each year Arctic sea ice grows over the cold winter and shrinks in the heat of the summer.—
Seth Borenstein,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Decreases.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decreases. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
