Dictionary entry details
• DECREASE (noun)
Meaning:
A change downward
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural events
Synonyms:
decrease; lessening; drop-off
Context examples:
there was a decrease in his temperature as the fever subsided / there was a sharp drop-off in sales
Hypernyms ("decrease" is a kind of...):
alteration; change; modification (an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "decrease"):
waning (a gradual decrease in magnitude or extent)
dwindling; dwindling away (a becoming gradually less)
attrition (a wearing down to weaken or destroy)
sinking (a slow fall or decline (as for lack of strength))
casualty (a decrease of military personnel or equipment)
shrinkage; shrinking (process or result of becoming less or smaller)
Antonym:
increase (a change resulting in an increase)
Meaning:
A process of becoming smaller or shorter
Classified under:
Nouns denoting natural processes
Synonyms:
decrement; decrease
Hypernyms ("decrease" is a kind of...):
physical process; process (a sustained phenomenon or one marked by gradual changes through a series of states)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "decrease"):
wastage (the process of wasting)
slippage (a decrease of transmitted power in a mechanical system caused by slipping)
narrowing (a decrease in width)
desensitisation; desensitization (the process of reducing sensitivity)
decline; diminution (change toward something smaller or lower)
decay; decline (a gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current)
Antonym:
increase (a process of becoming larger or longer or more numerous or more important)
Meaning:
The amount by which something decreases
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
Synonyms:
decrement; decrease
Hypernyms ("decrease" is a kind of...):
amount (how much of something is available)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "decrease"):
shrinkage (the amount by which something shrinks)
dip; drop; fall; free fall (a sudden sharp decrease in some quantity)
Antonym:
increase (the amount by which something increases)
Meaning:
The act of decreasing or reducing something
Classified under:
Nouns denoting acts or actions
Synonyms:
reduction; step-down; diminution; decrease
Hypernyms ("decrease" is a kind of...):
change of magnitude (the act of changing the amount or size of something)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "decrease"):
cut (the act of reducing the amount or number)
deflation (the act of letting the air out of something)
deduction; discount; price reduction (the act of reducing the selling price of merchandise)
rollback (reducing prices back to some earlier level)
weakening (the act of reducing the strength of something)
depreciation (a decrease in price or value)
contraction (the act of decreasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope)
reverse split; reverse stock split; split down (a decrease in the number of outstanding shares of a corporation without changing the shareholders' equity)
amortisation; amortization (the reduction of the value of an asset by prorating its cost over a period of years)
declassification (reduction or removal by the government of restrictions on a classified document or weapon)
shelter; tax shelter (a way of organizing business to reduce the taxes it must pay on current earnings)
tax credit (a direct reduction in tax liability (not dependent on the taxpayer's tax bracket))
deduction; subtraction (the act of subtracting (removing a part from the whole))
shrinking (the act of becoming less)
mitigation; moderation (the action of lessening in severity or intensity)
lowering (the act of causing to become less)
cutback (a reduction in quantity or rate)
devaluation (the reduction of something's value or worth)
devitalisation; devitalization (the act of reducing the vitality of something)
extenuation; mitigation; palliation (to act in such a way as to cause an offense to seem less serious)
alleviation; easement; easing; relief (the act of reducing something unpleasant (as pain or annoyance))
de-escalation ((war) a reduction in intensity (of a crisis or a war))
minimisation; minimization (the act of reducing something to the least possible amount or degree or position)
depletion (the act of decreasing something markedly)
shortening (act of decreasing in length)
Antonym:
increase (the act of increasing something)
• DECREASE (verb)
Meaning:
Decrease in size, extent, or range
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
decrease; diminish; lessen; fall
Context examples:
The amount of homework decreased towards the end of the semester / The cabin pressure fell dramatically / her weight fall to under a hundred pounds / his voice fell to a whisper
Hypernyms (to "decrease" is one way to...):
change magnitude (change in size or magnitude)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "decrease"):
dwindle; dwindle away; dwindle down (become smaller or lose substance)
remit (diminish or abate)
de-escalate (diminish in size, scope, or intensity)
depreciate; devaluate; devalue; undervalue (lose in value)
shorten (become short or shorter)
thin out (become sparser)
decline; go down; wane (grow smaller)
wane (decrease in phase)
wane (become smaller)
decelerate; retard; slow; slow down; slow up (lose velocity; move more slowly)
decrescendo (grow quieter)
deflate (become deflated or flaccid, as by losing air)
abate; die away; let up; slack; slack off (become less in amount or intensity)
break (diminish or discontinue abruptly)
shrink; shrivel (decrease in size, range, or extent)
taper (diminish gradually)
drop off (fall or diminish)
fly; vanish; vaporize (decrease rapidly and disappear)
break (fall sharply)
ease off; ease up; flag; slacken off (become less intense)
weaken (become weaker)
boil down; concentrate; decoct; reduce (be cooked until very little liquid is left)
contract; shrink (become smaller or draw together)
shrink; shrivel; shrivel up; wither (wither, as with a loss of moisture)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
Antonym:
increase (become bigger or greater in amount)
Meaning:
Make smaller
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
minify; decrease; lessen
Context example:
He decreased his staff
Hypernyms (to "decrease" is one way to...):
alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "decrease"):
de-escalate; step down; weaken (reduce the level or intensity or size or scope of)
minimise; minimize (make small or insignificant)
bring down; cut; cut back; cut down; reduce; trim; trim back; trim down (cut down on; make a reduction in)
cut (have a reducing effect)
relax; slack; slack up; slacken (make less active or fast)
lour; lower; turn down (make lower or quieter)
abate; slack; slake (make less active or intense)
abbreviate; abridge; contract; cut; foreshorten; reduce; shorten (reduce in scope while retaining essential elements)
reduce; shrink (reduce in size; reduce physically)
boil down; concentrate; reduce (cook until very little liquid is left)
circumscribe; confine; limit (restrict or confine,)
pare; pare down (decrease gradually or bit by bit)
mitigate (make less severe or harsh)
belittle; diminish (lessen the authority, dignity, or reputation of)
Sentence frames:
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something
Antonym:
increase (make bigger or more)
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