lessen

[les-uhn] / ˈlɛs ən /

VERB

lower, reduce

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abate curtail decrease dilute diminish dwindle ease erode impair lighten minimize mitigate narrow shrink slacken taper off weaken

STRONG

abridge amputate attenuate clip close contract crop cut de-escalate decline degrade downsize drain minify moderate soft pedal taper thin truncate

WEAK

become smaller cut back die down grow less roll back slack up slow down take the bite out take the edge off take the sting out wind down

Antonyms

STRONGEST

develop enlarge expand extend grow increase intensify irritate lengthen prolong strengthen worsen

STRONG

go up rise stretch

WEAK

raise

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.

With far less data available about the rare strain, health officials said there are fewer medical interventions to lessen its spread.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026

Japan also benefits from the push to find other sources of critical minerals and lessen reliance on China.

From Barron's • May 20, 2026

Asked how she would close budget gaps, Almario said the county must conduct greater oversight over its funds and programs to lessen the likelihood of large legal payouts and to “eliminate inefficiencies.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

"The helicopter is expected to carry out targeted water drops on the Elan Valley wildfire during the next few hours to extinguish or lessen the impacts of the fire," he said.

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

Maybe if I cried, the blaze would lessen.

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas

Vocabulary lists containing lessen

Going Down: Synonyms for "Fall"

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