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- pronunciation:
- le
s
 n
- parts of speech:
- intransitive verb, transitive verb
- features:
- Word Combinations (verb), Homophone Note, Word Parts
| part of speech: |
intransitive verb |
| inflections: |
lessens, lessening, lessened |
| definition: |
to become smaller in degree, amount, or size.
The wind lessened as the storm ended.The tutor's criticism lessened as the student improved.The pressure on both management and staff lessened after the inspection was over.Profits lessened this year despite all our efforts.- synonyms:
- abate, bate, decrease, diminish, lower, reduce, subside
- antonyms:
- increase
- similar words:
- abridge, cool, decline, dwindle, ebb, fall, let up, lighten, mitigate, moderate, prune, remit, shrink, wane
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| related words: |
allay, alleviate, ameliorate, assuage, break, buff, buffer, chill, deaden, deplete, depress, detract, diminish, dock, fall off, impair, mitigate, modify, mollify, narrow, pare, quiet, recede, relax, relent, relieve, shade, shrivel, sink, soothe, still, take, weaken |
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| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| definition: |
to make smaller in degree, amount, or size.
Hiring a few more employees lessened our work load considerably.I lessened the cooking time, and the dish turned out better.- synonyms:
- decrease, diminish, lighten, lower, reduce
- similar words:
- minimize
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Are you looking for the word lesson? Lessen and lesson sound alike but have different meanings.
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