Attenuate

Quick meaning: Attenuate is a verb meaning (transitive) To reduce in size, force, value, amount, or degree.

Meaning

(transitive) To reduce in size, force, value, amount, or degree.

More Meanings

1. (transitive) To make thinner, as by physically reshaping, starving, or decaying.
2. (intransitive) To become thin or fine; to grow less.
3. (transitive) To weaken.
4. (transitive) To rarefy.
5. (transitive, medicine) To reduce the virulence of a bacterium or virus.
6. (transitive, electronics) To reduce the amplitude of an electrical, radio, or optical signal.
7. (brewing) Of a beer, to become less dense as a result of the conversion of sugar to alcohol.

Example Sentences

Clumps of attenuated turkeys were suspended here and there.

We may reject and reject till we attenuate history into sapless meagreness.

A manor-house clock from the far depths of shadow struck the hour, one, in a small, attenuated tone.

Lovell, wan and hollow-eyed, his arm in a sling, his once burly frame gaunt and attenuated with disease, nodded.

Word Forms

• attenuates
• attenuating
• attenuated

Synonyms for attenuate

Depending on context, synonyms include dilute, diminish, lessen, mitigate, weaken, reduced.

Antonyms for attenuate

Common opposites include amplify, strengthen, intensify.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include faded, rarefy, reduced, weakened, decreased, diminish.

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