1
as in reduces
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 decreases
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 degrades
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 lessens
When hands move or are engaged, the tremor often lessens.
—
Adam Cohen, Oklahoman, 24 Mar. 2026
Heavy trapping lessens the odds of teaching rodents to be trap shy.
—Caden Perry, jsonline.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Five minutes of straight planking probably sounds intense, but this routine incorporates a different variation every 30 seconds, which lessens the intimidation factor and also gives certain muscles a breather while others take on more work.
—Jenny McCoy, Outside, 23 Mar. 2026
This decrease, in turn, lessens the force responsible for fibrosis, a buildup of scar tissue that harms organs.
—Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
Schneider is only 24, which lessens the urgency felt with a veteran such as Trocheck.
—Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Anything that lessens the steep sticker price of IVF is a big win, Brian Levine, MD, founding partner and practice director of CCRM Fertility of New York, tells SELF.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 9 Mar. 2026
The bridge is meant to create a north-south connection over the San Diego River — not subject to flooding — that lessens traffic congestion, promotes biking and walking, and facilitates access to the Fenton Parkway Trolley Station just west of the SDSU Mission Valley campus.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
The strategy not only reduces costs but also lessens Chinese companies’ exposure to geopolitical risks.
—John Liu, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
Adam Cohen, Oklahoman, 24 Mar. 2026
Heavy trapping lessens the odds of teaching rodents to be trap shy.
—Caden Perry, jsonline.com, 24 Mar. 2026
Five minutes of straight planking probably sounds intense, but this routine incorporates a different variation every 30 seconds, which lessens the intimidation factor and also gives certain muscles a breather while others take on more work.
—Jenny McCoy, Outside, 23 Mar. 2026
This decrease, in turn, lessens the force responsible for fibrosis, a buildup of scar tissue that harms organs.
—Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 17 Mar. 2026
Schneider is only 24, which lessens the urgency felt with a veteran such as Trocheck.
—Vincent Z. Mercogliano, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Anything that lessens the steep sticker price of IVF is a big win, Brian Levine, MD, founding partner and practice director of CCRM Fertility of New York, tells SELF.
—Erica Sloan, SELF, 9 Mar. 2026
The bridge is meant to create a north-south connection over the San Diego River — not subject to flooding — that lessens traffic congestion, promotes biking and walking, and facilitates access to the Fenton Parkway Trolley Station just west of the SDSU Mission Valley campus.
—Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
The strategy not only reduces costs but also lessens Chinese companies’ exposure to geopolitical risks.
—John Liu, CNN Money, 11 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lessens
Verb
-
Lower-temperature graphite production The second pathway, discovered by NLR and NCSU, reduces the temperature required to produce the mineral.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Mar. 2026
-
By revitalizing dormant follicles and promoting the transition from the telogen phase back to anagen, minoxidil reduces the overall quantity of hair lost.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
26 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,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Most retinol products are restricted to nighttime use because the ingredient degrades in sunlight, so this flexibility is a genuine differentiator.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2026
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Phase 1 degrades military power and holds hostage the regime’s economic lifelines.—
Richard Goldberg,
The Atlantic,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
Verb
-
In the state’s view, that weakens or muddies the legal boundary between the two types of gambling venues.—
Amanda Greenwood,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Justice delayed weakens deterrence.—
Romy Ellenbogen,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
Verb
-
When hospitals operate under extreme and unpredictable demand spikes, patient safety deteriorates.—
Eugene Litvak,
STAT,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Haldea cautioned that the secondary market could struggle to absorb a large wave of redemptions if investor sentiment deteriorates sharply.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Before heading to the bathroom to begin her morning skin-care routine, Rose Ingleton eases into the day in her sunlit Brooklyn brownstone.—
Kaleigh Fasanella,
Allure,
31 Mar. 2026
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Mallard even eases Vance into heaven, which lights up ethereally behind the door of what is normally the NCIS director's adjoining assistant's office.—
Haadiza Ogwude,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lessens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lessens. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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