DIMINISH Synonyms: 185 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'diminish' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of diminish are abate , decrease , dwindle , lessen , and reduce . While all these words mean "to grow or make less," diminish emphasizes a perceptible loss and implies its subtraction from a total. // his visual acuity has diminished

Q: When is 'abate' a more appropriate choice than 'diminish'?

In some situations, the words abate and diminish are roughly equivalent. However, abate implies a reducing of something excessive or oppressive in force or amount. // the storm abated

Q: When would 'decrease' be a good substitute for 'diminish'?

While the synonyms decrease and diminish are close in meaning, decrease suggests a progressive decline in size, amount, numbers, or intensity. // slowly decreased the amount of pressure

Q: Where would 'dwindle' be a reasonable alternative to 'diminish'?

The meanings of dwindle and diminish largely overlap; however, dwindle implies progressive lessening and is applied to things growing visibly smaller. // their provisions dwindled slowly

Q: In what contexts can 'lessen' take the place of 'diminish'?

While in some cases nearly identical to diminish , lessen suggests a decline in amount rather than in number. // has been unable to lessen her debt

Q: When could 'reduce' be used to replace 'diminish'?

The synonyms reduce and diminish are sometimes interchangeable, but reduce implies a bringing down or lowering. // you must reduce your caloric intake

diminish

verb

də-ˈmi-nish

Definition of diminish next

as in to minimize

to express scornfully one's low opinion of tends to diminish any rival's accomplishments with snide remarks

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to reduce

to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent the state's blood supplies were severely diminished by the two consecutive disasters

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to decrease

to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually the sound of the train diminished as our distance from it increased

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb diminish differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of diminish are abate, decrease, dwindle, lessen, and reduce. While all these words mean "to grow or make less," diminish emphasizes a perceptible loss and implies its subtraction from a total.

his visual acuity has diminished

When is abate a more appropriate choice than diminish?

In some situations, the words abate and diminish are roughly equivalent. However, abate implies a reducing of something excessive or oppressive in force or amount.

the storm abated

When would decrease be a good substitute for diminish?

While the synonyms decrease and diminish are close in meaning, decrease suggests a progressive decline in size, amount, numbers, or intensity.

slowly decreased the amount of pressure

Where would dwindle be a reasonable alternative to diminish?

The meanings of dwindle and diminish largely overlap; however, dwindle implies progressive lessening and is applied to things growing visibly smaller.

their provisions dwindled slowly

In what contexts can lessen take the place of diminish?

While in some cases nearly identical to diminish, lessen suggests a decline in amount rather than in number.

has been unable to lessen her debt

When could reduce be used to replace diminish?

The synonyms reduce and diminish are sometimes interchangeable, but reduce implies a bringing down or lowering.

you must reduce your caloric intake

Examples 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 diminish But after giving them a little extra attention during the day, the behavior starts to diminish. —

wendy Wisner, Parents, 9 Dec. 2024 The outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 ground textile manufacturing to a halt but did not diminish demand for its output. —

Shoshi Parks, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Dec. 2024 Justin Mankin, a climate scientist at Dartmouth who contributed to that finding, lives in New Hampshire, which exists well on the other side of that snow-loss cliff, where each additional degree of temperature rise dramatically diminishes snowpack. —

Zoë Schlanger, The Atlantic, 5 Dec. 2024 The formula also features brightening licorice root to diminish dark spots and balance skin tone, targeting common signs of aging like hyperpigmentation. —

Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 3 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for diminish

Recent Examples of Synonyms for diminish

Verb

Through the park search, the NYPD has taken steps to minimize disruption to visitors, leading to an odd juxtaposition of joggers, tourists and an active crime scene.

Cedar Attanasio and Michael R. Sisak, Los Angeles Times, 9 Dec. 2024
By emphasizing the organization’s commitment to mutual respect and shared goals, HR leaders can minimize disruptions while maximizing team effectiveness. 4.

Melanie Hughes, Forbes, 9 Dec. 2024