REDUCE Synonyms: 119 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'reduce' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of reduce are abate , decrease , diminish , dwindle , and lessen . While all these words mean "to grow or make less," reduce implies a bringing down or lowering. // you must reduce your caloric intake

Q: When would 'abate' be a good substitute for 'reduce'?

The synonyms abate and reduce are sometimes interchangeable, but abate implies a reducing of something excessive or oppressive in force or amount. // the storm abated

Q: Where would 'decrease' be a reasonable alternative to 'reduce'?

The meanings of decrease and reduce largely overlap; however, decrease suggests a progressive decline in size, amount, numbers, or intensity. // slowly decreased the amount of pressure

Q: When can 'diminish' be used instead of 'reduce'?

While the synonyms diminish and reduce are close in meaning, diminish emphasizes a perceptible loss and implies its subtraction from a total. // his visual acuity has diminished

Q: In what contexts can 'dwindle' take the place of 'reduce'?

In some situations, the words dwindle and reduce are roughly equivalent. However, dwindle implies progressive lessening and is applied to things growing visibly smaller. // their provisions dwindled slowly

Q: When is 'lessen' a more appropriate choice than 'reduce'?

The words lessen and reduce are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, lessen suggests a decline in amount rather than in number. // has been unable to lessen her debt

reduce

verb

ri-ˈdüs

Definition of reduce

as in to demote

to bring to a lower grade or rank was reduced from team captain to team member as punishment for his misbehavior on the court

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to decrease

to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent you'll have to reduce the amount of money you spend on unnecessary purchases if you want to have any money left for retirement

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to lower

to diminish the price or value of a mortgage crisis that reduced homes to their lowest level in a decade

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb reduce differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of reduce are abate, decrease, diminish, dwindle, and lessen. While all these words mean "to grow or make less," reduce implies a bringing down or lowering.

you must reduce your caloric intake

When would abate be a good substitute for reduce?

The synonyms abate and reduce are sometimes interchangeable, but abate implies a reducing of something excessive or oppressive in force or amount.

the storm abated

Where would decrease be a reasonable alternative to reduce?

The meanings of decrease and reduce largely overlap; however, decrease suggests a progressive decline in size, amount, numbers, or intensity.

slowly decreased the amount of pressure

When can diminish be used instead of reduce?

While the synonyms diminish and reduce are close in meaning, diminish emphasizes a perceptible loss and implies its subtraction from a total.

his visual acuity has diminished

In what contexts can dwindle take the place of reduce?

In some situations, the words dwindle and reduce are roughly equivalent. However, dwindle implies progressive lessening and is applied to things growing visibly smaller.

their provisions dwindled slowly

When is lessen a more appropriate choice than reduce?

The words lessen and reduce are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, lessen suggests a decline in amount rather than in number.

has been unable to lessen her debt

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 reduce Already 2026 was predicted to have lower than average storm generation, and that has been reduced even further with the latest forecasts from the NOAA and other weather groups. — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 9 Aug. 2026 Strangely, one copy of KL-VS is fortuitous, but inheriting one from each parent can backfire, reducing Klotho levels and curtailing lifespan for reasons scientists do not fully understand. — Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 9 Aug. 2026 Keep the legs bent in a half boat pose instead of straight, which can reduce core strain and effort. — Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 9 Aug. 2026 Strategic stillness strengthens emotional intelligence, reduces fatigue, and prevents burnout. — Bryan Robinson, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for reduce

Recent Examples of Synonyms for reduce

Verb

Matthew Brewer served as the Chicago Housing Authority board’s chair until Johnson sought to demote him amid a power struggle over who would be the next CEO of the nation’s third-largest public housing agency.

— Alice Yin, Chicago Tribune, 5 Aug. 2026
Acquiring Vodnik cost Miami Norby (who played in 189 games for the Marlins across three seasons but was demoted to Triple A in June) and May (a pitcher prospect in High A).

— Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of demote

Verb

Some of the commitments of the CROP plan is to decrease communitywide greenhouse gas emissions 30% by 2030, and achieve communitywide net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

— Cam'ron Hardy, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
The Palm Beach County school district, like its Broward and Miami-Dade counterparts, is facing the issue of decreasing enrollment.

— Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of decrease

Verb

The knob twists and depresses like a button (with programmable options for both a short and long press).

— Brian Westover, PC Magazine, 3 Aug. 2026
But that’s forcing them to wrestle with the idea that any action taken by a party is illegitimate, anti-democratic rigging — something the other team can use to depress the base.

— David Weigel, semafor.com, 22 July 2026

Definition of depress

Verb

But five months of fighting in the Middle East have left the nation's missile inventory depleted to the point where analysts feel they could soon be exhausted.

— Michael Loria, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026
Bringing in the Frenchman would certainly be a statement signing, and significantly boost an attacking line that is depleted following the exit of Mohamed Salah and the long-term loss of Hugo Ekitike to injury.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of deplete

Verb

Storms stretched from the Plains to Ohio early Friday morning and will slowly start to sink south and ease up by the afternoon.

— Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Soon after a three-hour, 46-minute contest concluded a stretch of 26 games in 27 days, Jake Cronenworth sank into his chair inside the San Diego Padres’ clubhouse.

— Dennis Lin, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026

Definition of sink

Verb

Instead, the fresh requirements appeared to diminish prospects for a quick deal, despite optimism last week an agreement was near.

— Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
But they’ve never been litigated — and the developments are already stoking fears of diminishing Fed independence as the central bank weighs whether to raise interest rates at its next meeting.

— Eleanor Mueller, semafor.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of diminish

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red stars

reduce

reduced

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“Reduce.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/reduce. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of reduce

verb

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