minimize

[min-uh-mahyz] / ˈmɪn əˌmaɪz /

VERB

make smaller; underrate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

curtail decrease diminish downplay lessen play down reduce trivialize underestimate

STRONG

abbreviate attenuate belittle cheapen decry deprecate depreciate derogate detract discount disparage dwarf knock miniaturize pan pooh-pooh prune shrink underplay

WEAK

cut down to size knock down make light of make little of poor-mouth put down run down

Antonyms

STRONGEST

develop enlarge expand extend grow increase lengthen prolong raise strengthen

STRONG

approve build up commend compliment exalt laud praise

WEAK

maximize overestimate overrate

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.

Airstrikes have long been a go-to way to project military power for U.S. administrations that want to minimize the risk of American casualties and avoid entangling ground wars.

From The Wall Street Journal

This and precise targeting can minimize civilian casualties.

From The Wall Street Journal

The evidence on the shingles vaccine and dementia comes from the equivalent of a gold-standard natural experiment where the influence of such confounding variables has been minimized, he says.

From MarketWatch

But over the centuries, humans developed rules of warfare designed to, at least in theory, minimize the blood-letting.

From Salon

Global authorities must step up their surveillance of lending by nonbank players like hedge funds and institutional investors to minimize risks to financial stability, Bank of Canada Gov. Tiff Macklem said.

From The Wall Street Journal

minimize

Example Sentences

Related Words