lessened 1 of 2

adjective

as in diminished

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lessened

2 of 2

verb

past tense of lessen
1
as in reduced
to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent we lessened our efforts as it became clear they weren't having an effect

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in decreased
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually the pain should begin to lessen within minutes of taking the medication

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3
as in weakened
to lower in character, dignity, or quality blatant hypocrisy that lessened him in the eyes of the voters

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lessened
Adjective
Kuminga then saw a combination of injuries and uneven performances lead to lessened playing time before eventually falling out of the rotation altogether. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026 Mitigators work in the other direction, articulating a spectrum of factors that might support lessened punishment, such as the defendant having no prior criminal record, or acting under significant duress. — Literary Hub, 20 Jan. 2026 After taking a lessened role in 2025, Texas Tech cornerback Maurion Horn will enter the transfer portal with one year of eligibility remaining, per multiple reports. — Ty Kaplan, Dallas Morning News, 2 Jan. 2026 An overloaded dryer leads to lessened airflow and, therefore, extended dry time. — Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Dec. 2025
Verb
Still, the lack of strong depth in the Phillies’ system may have lessened their ability to make deals such as those listed above. — Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026 Rutherford shares that, until now, a voyage like his would not have been possible, but warmer climates globally have drastically lessened the ice in the Arctic. — Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026 Likewise, the respite afforded by the twin hydration breaks has also reduced the need for improvised periods of gentlemanly repose, which in turn has lessened the demand for the chilly spray. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 17 July 2026 The decision doesn’t automatically remove him from the Cy Young conversation, but his workload, lessened by the six-man rotation, was already the biggest adjustment to his campaign. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026 Visibility lessened as the Cardinals tacked on a third-inning insurance run and, by the sixth inning, clearly began to affect play. — Andy Martinez, Chicago Tribune, 5 July 2026 Late 19th and Early 20th Century Most Western states capitalized on the barriers imposed on divorce and lessened their residency requirements to shorten the length of time one had to reside in the state to be able to file for divorce. — Patricia Fersch, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026 Earlier models showed the potential for another tornado outbreak in the Chicago area less than a week after 13 tornado touchdowns were confirmed in the south and southwest suburbs and Northwest Indiana, but a cold front has lessened the threat and pushed it further south. — Laura Bannon, CBS News, 17 June 2026 Late Monday, officials allowed 65% of evacuees to return home, saying the threat of a catastrophic blast from the overheated container at GKN Aerospace had lessened. — Kaitlyn Schallhorn, Oc Register, 26 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lessened
  1. reduced
  2. decreased
  3. diminished
  4. weakened
  5. consumed
  6. subsided
  7. deteriorated
  8. depleted
Adjective
  • Less solar radiation and reduced temperatures can also affect wind, cloud cover and humidity.
    — Mary Gilbert, CNN Money, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Emerging data also points to potential neurological advantages, including a reduced risk of dementia.
    — Jesse M. Pines, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of reduced
Verb
  • Drought has led to decreased snowpack and water flowing into the river.
    — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Crimes against society, including prostitution, drug and weapons offenses, decreased slightly, going from 278 incidents last year to 227 incidents so far this year.
    — Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of decreased
Verb
  • The influence and interest of the United States in the islands must be increased and not diminished.
    — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Then, there is the rise of China, which has shifted Washington’s strategic focus away from Europe and diminished NATO’s centrality to American concerns.
    — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of diminished
Verb
  • Burger’s appointment, therefore, was concerning to criminal defense attorneys and civil rights activists, who feared that the Warren Court’s landmark decisions would be weakened or overturned.
    — Quinn Yeargain, The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Business in the greater Tokyo area was almost back to normal Wednesday after a tropical storm weakened to a depression and left Japan, with transportation operating normally and power restored to most homes.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of weakened
Adjective
  • Kennedy’s new pyramid places meat, dairy, fruit, and vegetables at the top (most consumed), and tapers down through fruits and vegetables to whole grains.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 31 July 2026
  • In Stoddart’s estimation, the best way to freeze these semi-consumed cakes is in slices.
    — Taylor Tobin, Southern Living, 2 Dec. 2025
Definition of consumed
Verb
  • The emails from McDonnell promising incoming bank wires and new revenue streams subsided.
    — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Gardeners in areas with mild winters can also get away with dividing and transplanting in the fall once the summer heat has subsided.
    — The Spruce, The Spruce, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of subsided
Verb
  • Doctors admitted him to the hospital, but his condition only deteriorated.
    — Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 12 Aug. 2026
  • In the provincial capital Pontianak, schools suspended in-person classes after air quality deteriorated to unhealthy levels and health officials reported a rise in respiratory illnesses.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
Definition of deteriorated
Adjective
  • Reprocessing spent energy storage directly into high-purity inputs turns depleted battery cells into clean power for the next generation of electric vehicles.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Zelenskyy argued more lives could have been saved had Western allies replenished Ukraine's depleted stockpiles of air defense interceptors.
    — Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of depleted

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Cite this Entry

“Lessened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lessened. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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