attenuates
Reduces in strength
Attenuates means reduces in force, intensity, or thickness.
A signal attenuates as it travels through a cable.
Sunscreen attenuates UV radiation.
The word often appears in technical contexts—physics, medicine, engineering—but extends to anything gradually weakened or thinned: Distance attenuates even the strongest connections.
The opposite is amplify.
Reduce in degree
- decreaseBecome or make smaller
- reduceMake smaller in degree
- weakenReduce in strength
- diminishTo make smaller
dwindle · decline · subside · wane · ebb · taper · abate · recede
Message-conveying cue
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
- transmissionSending of information
- fiber opticLight-based data transmission
decibel · amplitude · wavelength · electromagnetic · ultrasound · X-ray · filter · resistor
lessen
Reduce in degree
diminish · dwindle · decline · subside · wane · ebb · taper · abate · recede · shrink
signal
Message-conveying cue
- frequencyRate of recurrence
- radiationEnergy propagation through space
- transmissionSending of information
fiber optic · decibel · amplitude · wavelength · electromagnetic · ultrasound · X-ray · filter · resistor · capacitor
muffle
Deaden or suppress sound
buffer · suppress · soften · insulate · cushion · dull · blunt · soundproof · acoustic · silencer
dilute
Reduce by adding solvent
- thinSmall in diameter
- rarefyDecrease in density
- water downWeaken by adding liquid
disperse · diffuse · dissipate · scatter · spread · stretch · extend · elongate · draw out · sparse
attenuatesamplifies
Increases strength or volume
intensifies · strengthens · increases · magnifies · heightens
attenuatesthickens
Becomes less fluid
concentrates · condenses · densifies · coagulates · solidifies
- wave attenuationReduction in wave intensity