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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lessen
The drone also has built-in guards around its 3-inch propellers, which lessen the chance of injury to yourself or another person.
—
PC Magazine, 14 Aug. 2025
Fire behavior lessened Monday because of lighter winds, Thompson said.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 12 Aug. 2025
The exit from Leagues Cup will lessen schedule congestion between MLS matches with Seattle on Aug. 16 and Salt Lake on Aug. 23.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 9 Aug. 2025
Burrow hopes that feeling the rush and gaining real reps working the pocket will help lessen the impact of opening-week clunkers that contributed to the team’s slow starts.
—Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lessen
PC Magazine, 14 Aug. 2025
Fire behavior lessened Monday because of lighter winds, Thompson said.
—Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 12 Aug. 2025
The exit from Leagues Cup will lessen schedule congestion between MLS matches with Seattle on Aug. 16 and Salt Lake on Aug. 23.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 9 Aug. 2025
Burrow hopes that feeling the rush and gaining real reps working the pocket will help lessen the impact of opening-week clunkers that contributed to the team’s slow starts.
—Paul Dehner Jr, New York Times, 8 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lessen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lessen
Verb
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Already, Indianapolis department heads were asked to reduce costs to balance the 2026 budget in the face of a $43 million revenue shortfall.—
Jordan Smith,
IndyStar,
31 Aug. 2025
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In November 2023, the Pitkin County commissioners finalized a new rule to reduce the maximum house size from 15,000 to 9,250 square feet, the Aspen Daily News reported.—
Jonathan Limehouse,
USA Today,
31 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The Congressional Budget Office projected that the administration’s tariff policy would decrease the total deficits by up to $4 trillion over the next decade.—
Sydney Topf,
The Washington Examiner,
23 Aug. 2025
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Motor vehicle thefts declined 21 percent this month and 27 percent year-to-date, while burglaries decreased 28 percent from July 2024.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Aug. 2025
Verb
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For starters, the quality of natural water is degrading—creating more favorable conditions for Legionella, which loves acidic water and low oxygen levels, to multiply—as the planet warms.—
Dylan Scott,
Wired News,
23 Aug. 2025
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Organizations celebrate productivity metrics while quality quietly degrades.—
Tarun Galagali,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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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.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
26 Aug. 2025
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The reality is that professionalism, delivered consistently, will outlast attempts to diminish it.—
Benjamin Laker,
Forbes.com,
25 Aug. 2025
Verb
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For Trump, whose political brand has long relied on projecting authenticity to his base, a sustained decline in honesty ratings could weaken his ability to roll out his agenda.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Aug. 2025
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But Goolsbee said Trump’s immigration crackdown likely has affected population growth and the jobs numbers, but that doesn’t mean the labor market has substantially weakened.—
Paul Davidson,
USA Today,
13 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Once the mayhem of the transfer window has subsided, before those competitions kicking off their group stages, The Athletic will take a deeper look at each club’s position within the rules beyond domestic borders.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
22 Aug. 2025
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The region is just coming off high tide, so many ongoing coastal flooding issues will likely subside a bit heading into the region’s low tide around midnight.—
Emily Shapiro,
ABC News,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But after the Sriracha-maker callously withheld payments from Underwood, the relationship deteriorated and litigation followed.—
Kate Vitasek,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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But this week, the situation in Donetsk has rapidly deteriorated, with Russian forces making important advances to the north east of Dobropilia, altering control of the area Witkoff has been discussing with the Kremlin.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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To the transcendental artist these conventional interpretations of reality are emotional and rational constructs devised by man to dilute or explain away the transcendental.—
Roy Scranton
August 20,
Literary Hub,
20 Aug. 2025
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As brands attempt to expand campaigns across multiple publishers, consistency becomes harder to maintain, and operational inefficiencies start to dilute performance.—
Harshit Jain,
Forbes.com,
19 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lessen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lessen. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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