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
By vaccinating within three days of the initial exposure, the disease can be stopped or its severity can be lessened, Jones said.
—
Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Mar. 2025
Contacting these analysts can help executives get up to speed on what is going on with the industry overall and lessen their technical learning curve.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
During recovery and six hours after surgery, melatonin also lessened anxiety relative to placebo.
—Allison Herries, Verywell Health, 31 Mar. 2025
Cities have public transit systems to reduce congestion, lessen their carbon footprint, and give equal access to opportunities to people who may not be able to drive or afford a car.
—Cicely Jones, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lessen
Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Mar. 2025
Contacting these analysts can help executives get up to speed on what is going on with the industry overall and lessen their technical learning curve.
—Expert Panel®, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
During recovery and six hours after surgery, melatonin also lessened anxiety relative to placebo.
—Allison Herries, Verywell Health, 31 Mar. 2025
Cities have public transit systems to reduce congestion, lessen their carbon footprint, and give equal access to opportunities to people who may not be able to drive or afford a car.
—Cicely Jones, Forbes.com, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lessen
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lessen
Verb
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Standardization can also reduce due diligence burdens.—
The Sorenson Impact Institute,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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Higher temperatures may also reduce the sugar content of maple sap, meaning producers will need to collect and boil more sap to produce the same quantities of syrup.—
Nina Foster,
JSTOR Daily,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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And the over-all number of abortions in the U.S. may eventually decrease as a result of Dobbs.—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
14 Apr. 2025
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On the other hand, just 5 percent said tariffs would decrease prices in the short term, and 30 percent said the policy would lower prices in the long term.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Government lawyers argue that Meta's services have degraded in quality in part because of its dominant position in the marketplace.—
Bobby Allyn,
NPR,
13 Apr. 2025
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According to the National Institutes of Health, ALS progressively degrades, then kills nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.—
Natalie Neysa Alund,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The previous six champions were all diminished the following season by either injuries or significant roster changes.—
Jay King,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
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Lacy turned himself in to police on Jan. 12, but his NFL Draft prospects were significantly diminished by the wreck.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
13 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Agreeing to a pick swap with the Lynx weakened the value of the pick that the Sky traded away.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2025
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One by one, the sectors defect, and, eventually, the leader may weaken and their government may fall.—
Julia Angwin,
New Yorker,
12 Apr. 2025
Verb
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While the threat of more tornadoes has subsided in the Great Plains, fire danger remains elevated Monday in the region.—
Ginger Zee,
ABC News,
17 Mar. 2025
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Inflation, which went wild post-Covid, subsided in February, according to data yesterday that gave markets a brief reprieve.—
Jill Goldsmith,
Deadline,
13 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Experts noted that the election took place in a deeply divided nation, where citizens were split on how best to confront surging crime and a deteriorating economy.—
Antonio Maria Delgado,
Miami Herald,
14 Apr. 2025
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The ministry said that due to the sweeping tariffs imposed by the U.S., as well as the U.S.-China trade war, the growth outlook for both the U.S. and China will deteriorate.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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To take apple cider vinegar before bed, dilute it in water and drink the mixture 2-3 hours before bed to prevent acid reflux.—
Johna Burdeos,
Health,
7 Apr. 2025
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As the water diluted the stains, the fabric faded to a soft pink.—
Rebecca Ruth Gould,
JSTOR Daily,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lessen.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lessen. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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