Diminish

Quick meaning: Diminish is a verb meaning (transitive) To make smaller.

Meaning

(transitive) To make smaller.

More Meanings

1. (intransitive) To become less or smaller.
2. (transitive) To make appear smaller than in reality; to dismiss as unimportant.
3. (transitive) To lessen the authority or dignity of; to put down; to degrade; to abase; to weaken; to nerf (in gaming).
4. (intransitive) To taper.
5. (intransitive) To disappear gradually.
6. (transitive) To take away; to subtract.

Example Sentences

1639, Ralph Robinson (translator), Utopia by Thomas More, London, Book 2, “Of their journying or travelling abroad,” p. 197, […] this doth nothing diminish their opinion.

It shall be the basest of the kingdoms; neither shall it exalt itself any more above the nations: for I will diminish them, that they shall no more rule over the nations.

In Seth’s presence Mr Biswas felt diminished. Everything about Seth was overpowering: his calm manner, his smooth grey hair, his ivory holder, his hard swollen forearms […]

O thou, that, with surpassing glory crowned, Lookest from thy sole dominion like the God Of this new world; at whose sight all the stars Hide their diminished heads; to thee I call,

Word Forms

• diminishes
• diminishing
• diminished

Synonyms for diminish

Depending on context, synonyms include decline, ebb, ooze, abase, abate, belittle.

Antonyms for diminish

Common opposites include improve, repair, renovate, augment, increase.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include lessen, decrease, fall, belittle, minimize, decrement.

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