diminutions
Acts of lessening
Diminutions is the plural of diminution, meaning reductions or decreases in size, extent, or importance.
The word is formal and appears in legal, financial, and academic contexts: The treaty resulted in significant diminutions of sovereignty.
A diminution differs from a diminishment mainly in register—diminution sounds more technical, diminishment more everyday.
Become or make smaller
- lesseningBecoming reduced in degree
- shrinkageDecrease in size
- declineDecrease or refuse
- contractionReduction in size
cutback · scaling down · downsizing · abatement · erosion · depletion · attrition · tapering
Decreasing in dimension
- compressionForcing into smaller space
- compactionReducing volume through pressure
- condensationVapor turning to liquid
- truncationCutting something shorter
shortening · narrowing · thinning · atrophy · withering · shriveling · dwarfing · stunting
Gradual decrease in loudness
- fadeLose intensity gradually
- softeningBecoming less firm
- quietingMaking something still
- pianissimoExtremely quiet, in scores
dying away · morendo · hushing · muting · dampening · attenuating · tapering off · fading out
Criticism meant to diminish
- demeaningCausing loss of respect
- deprecationExpression of strong disapproval
- devaluationLowering of currency worth
- trivializationMaking something seem minor
understatement · slighting · degradation · denigration · condescension · dismissiveness · marginalization · downplaying
decrease
Become or make smaller
contraction · cutback · scaling down · downsizing · abatement · erosion · depletion · attrition · tapering · dwindling
shrinking
Decreasing in dimension
- compressionForcing into smaller space
- compactionReducing volume through pressure
- condensationVapor turning to liquid
truncation · shortening · narrowing · thinning · atrophy · withering · shriveling · dwarfing · stunting · scaling
decrescendo
Gradual decrease in loudness
pianissimo · dying away · morendo · hushing · muting · dampening · attenuating · tapering off · fading out · sotto voce
disparagement
Criticism meant to diminish
- demeaningCausing loss of respect
- deprecationExpression of strong disapproval
- devaluationLowering of currency worth
trivialization · understatement · slighting · degradation · denigration · condescension · dismissiveness · marginalization · downplaying · undercutting
diminutionsincreases
Becomes greater in amount
growths · expansions · enlargements · augmentations · amplifications
diminutionsintensifications
Increases in strength
amplifications · escalations · boosts · enhancements · aggravations
diminutionselevations
Heights above reference point
aggrandizements · enhancements · promotions · advancements · exaltations