| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | cut short; abridge |
| Synonyms: | abbreviate, boil down, chop, clip, contract, cramp, cut, cut back, decrease, diminish, dock, downsize, get to meat, halt, lessen, lop, minify, pare down, put in nutshell, reduce, retrench, roll back, shorten, slash, trim, truncate |
| Antonyms: | extend, increase, lengthen, prolong |
| Main Entry: | dwarf |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | minimize |
| Synonyms: | belittle, check, detract from, dim, diminish, dominate, hinder, look down upon, lower, make small, micrify, minify, overshadow, predominate, retard, rise above, stunt, suppress, tower above, tower over |
| Notes: | a dwarf is smaller and not proportioned like an average person; a midget is smaller but is proportioned like an average full-grown person; a pygmy is perfectly proportioned but smaller than a midget |
| Antonyms: | maximize, oversize |
| Main Entry: | lessen |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | lower, reduce |
| Synonyms: | abate, abridge, amputate, attenuate, become smaller, clip, close, contract, crop, curtail, cut, cut back, de-escalate, decline, decrease, degrade, die down, dilute, diminish, downsize, drain, dwindle, ease, erode, grow less, impair, lighten, minify, minimize, mitigate, moderate, narrow, roll back, shrink, slack up, slacken, slow down, soft-pedal, take the bite out, take the edge off, take the sting out, taper, taper off, thin, truncate, weaken, wind down |
| Notes: | lessen means to decrease in size, extent, or range, while a lesson is a unit of instruction |
| Antonyms: | enlarge, extend, increase, raise, strengthen |