lessens

Brings down gradually

Lessens means to make or become smaller in amount, degree, or intensity.

Pain lessens as wounds heal.

You can lessen your risk of heart disease through diet and exercise.

The news did nothing to lessen her anxiety.

The word suggests gradual reduction rather than sudden elimination.

decrease

diminishes

Becomes smaller or weaker

reducesMakes less in quantity
shrinksDecreases in size
dwindlesGradually becomes smaller

ebbs · wanes · declines · subsides · tapers · recedes · contracts · depletes · abates · weakens

alleviate

soothe

Gently ease discomfort

relieveLessen pain or burden
easeLack of strain
mitigateMake less severe

palliate · assuage · allay · comfort · calm · soften · ameliorate · mollify · temper · dulls

Categories

verbsjump, be, speak, wait, do
slowing downbraking, brakes, crawl, coasts, creep
erodeserodes, corrodes, abrades, wears down, wears out
falls offdrops, tumbles, slips, detaches, topples

Opposites

magnitude change

lessensincreases

Becomes greater in amount

grows · enlarges · expands · amplifies · augments

intensity/severity change

lessensintensifies

Increases in strength

worsens · aggravates · exacerbates · heightens · strengthens

Phrases

lesser evilMore acceptable harm
lesser of two evilsPreferable among bad options
lesser mortalsOrdinary folks, implying superiority
the lesser evil
lesser beings
to a lesser extent

Family

lessen, lesser, lessening, lessened

Familiarity: Top 50,000
Profile: Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Abstract · Everyday, not technical · Rated G