lessen

[les-uhn] / ˈlɛs ən /

VERB

lower, reduce

Synonyms

STRONGEST

abate curtail decrease dilute diminish dwindle ease erode impair lighten minimize mitigate narrow shrink slacken taper off weaken

STRONG

abridge amputate attenuate clip close contract crop cut de-escalate decline degrade downsize drain minify moderate soft pedal taper thin truncate

WEAK

become smaller cut back die down grow less roll back slack up slow down take the bite out take the edge off take the sting out wind down

Antonyms

STRONGEST

develop enlarge expand extend grow increase intensify irritate lengthen prolong strengthen worsen

STRONG

go up rise stretch

WEAK

raise

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The researchers identified several practical steps consumers can take to lessen the environmental impact of washing dishes:

From Science Daily • Jun. 1, 2026

You cannot take the pain out of writing, but you can lessen some of the grunt work and redirect your energy, and despair, elsewhere.

From Slate • May 24, 2026

The European Union and Mexico will on Friday sign a deal reducing tariffs on each other's goods as both seek to lessen their dependence on trade with the United States.

From Barron's • May 22, 2026

“Continued weakness in demand and the labor market is likely to lessen the strength of second-round effects from higher global energy prices,” the BOE said in its April monetary policy report.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

All of these activities helped to pass the time, and the weeks went by quickly, but they did not lessen our longing to get away.

From "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH" by Robert C. O'Brien

Vocabulary lists containing lessen

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