diminish
Lessen over time
To diminish is to make or become smaller, fewer, or less important.
Light diminishes at dusk.
Pain diminishes over time.
Authority can be diminished by scandal.
The word often implies gradual reduction rather than sudden loss: His influence diminished as rivals gained power.
To diminish someone is to belittle them or make them seem less significant.
Reduce in degree
- reduceMake smaller in degree
- decreaseBecome or make smaller
- declineDecrease or refuse
- dwindleDecrease gradually over time
shrink · lower · subside · wane · ebb · taper · abate · drop
Express low opinion of
- denigrateCriticize unfairly to harm
- demeanLower in standing
- deprecateExpress earnest disapproval
- devalueReduce perceived worth
discredit · downplay · trivialize · understate · belittle · detract · derogate · decry
Decrease gradually
- ebbGradual retreat seaward
- declineDecrease or refuse
- witherDry and decay
- decayGradual organic breakdown
atrophy · deteriorate · degenerate · languish · weaken · wilt · pale · dissipate
To diminish or damage
- weakenReduce in strength
- erodeDiminish through persistent friction
- damageHarm or impairment
- compromiseAgreement through mutual sacrifice
sabotage · subvert · destabilize · undercut · sap · debilitate · cripple · vitiate
lessen
Reduce in degree
dwindle · shrink · lower · subside · wane · ebb · taper · abate · drop · fall
disparage
Express low opinion of
devalue · discredit · downplay · trivialize · understate · belittle · detract · derogate · decry · undermine
wane
Decrease gradually
decay · atrophy · deteriorate · degenerate · languish · weaken · wilt · pale · dissipate · evanesce
impair
To diminish or damage
compromise · sabotage · subvert · destabilize · undercut · sap · debilitate · cripple · vitiate · enfeeble
contract
Enforceable written agreement
narrow · shrivel · deflate · compact · tighten · collapse · reduce · truncate · shorten · scale down
- declinesdrop, decline, downtrend, downturn, downfall
- fizzle outpeter out, taper off, dwindle, wane, die away
- declinedecline, in decline, decrease, downswing, on the decline
- decreasesreduction, decline, drop, fall, decrease
- diminishingabate, decrease, dwindle, ebb, fade
- downplayingdownplay, trivializing, belittling, soft-pedal, dismissing
- diminishing returnsReduced benefit from additional effort
- law of diminishing returnsAdded effort produces declining benefit
- diminished chordStacked minor thirds
- diminishing marginal
- diminished capacityImpaired mental functioning
diminished, diminishing, diminishes, undiminished, diminishment, diminisher, diminishers