Dictionary entry details
• LESSEN (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 "lessen" is one way to...):
change magnitude (change in size or magnitude)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "lessen"):
break (diminish or discontinue abruptly)
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)
dwindle; dwindle away; dwindle down (become smaller or lose substance)
deflate (become deflated or flaccid, as by losing air)
abate; die away; let up; slack; slack off (become less in amount or intensity)
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
Meaning:
Make smaller
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
minify; decrease; lessen
Context example:
He decreased his staff
Hypernyms (to "lessen" is one way to...):
alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)
Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "lessen"):
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
Meaning:
Wear off or die down
Classified under:
Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.
Synonyms:
subside; lessen
Context example:
The pain subsided
Hypernyms (to "lessen" is one way to...):
weaken (become weaker)
Sentence frame:
Something ----s
