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Definitions

decrease

[dih-krees, dee-krees, dih-krees] / dɪˈkris, ˈdi kris, dɪˈkris /
NOUN
diminishing, lessening
Synonyms
STRONGEST
contraction cutback decline discount downturn loss reduction shrinkage
STRONG
abatement compression condensation constriction declining depression diminution dwindling ebb markdown subsidence waning
WEAK
decrescence falling-off striction
Antonyms
STRONGEST
enlargement increase rise
STRONG
markup
WEAK
addition development expansion growth raise
VERB
grow less or make less
Synonyms
STRONGEST
abate curb curtail cut down decline depreciate deteriorate diminish drop drop off dwindle ease ebb fall off lessen lower reduce shrink sink slacken slash slump soften subside wane weaken
STRONG
check contract crumble decay degenerate devaluate droop evaporate fade lighten modify quell quiet restrain settle shrivel waste wither
WEAK
calm down die down dry up let up lose edge narrow down peter out run low slack off slow down tail off wear away wear down
Antonyms
STRONGEST
ascend compliment develop enlarge expand extend go up grow improve increase irritate laud lengthen praise prolong raise rise strengthen
STRONG
build liberate upset
WEAK
add

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The decrease was driven by the company’s divestiture of Medicare and related businesses last March, it said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

Even more troubling, that number was a 52.5% decrease compared to the same time period in 2025.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 28, 2026

You may need to decrease your contributions at some point, but if you start out by saving less, it will be harder to catch up.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 28, 2026

Jogging was associated with an 11% reduction, while cycling showed a smaller 4% decrease.

From Science Daily • Apr. 27, 2026

And I didn’t know that the enthalpy decrease in a converging passage could be transformed into jet kinetic energy if a divergent passage was added.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam

Vocabulary lists containing decrease

List 2

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Ratios and Proportional Relationships

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Ratios and Proportional Relationships

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