DECREASES Synonyms: 159 Similar and Opposite Words

decreases 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of decrease

as in reduces

to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent workers decreased the volume of water flowing through the pipes in order to prevent an overflow

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as in diminishes

to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually the force of the wind slowly decreased until the flowers were standing upright again

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

decreases

2 of 2

noun

plural of decrease

as in reductions

the amount by which something is lessened the average decrease in the price of milk was five cents per gallon

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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 decreases

Verb

The front finally moves through on Friday, but some heavy rain will still be possible early, before the chance of rain decreases into the weekend. — Michael Autovino, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026 The Nebraska researchers also found that hafnia becomes more stable as its thickness decreases. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2026 Of course, that age range decreases in areas where mule deer hunting is less restricted. — Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 24 Sep. 2026 When those foundations are set, AI decreases the number of touches per invoice, increases real-time visibility and provides controls that can scale with transaction volume. — John Gronen, Forbes.com, 23 Sep. 2026 The polar vortex naturally develops during late summer and fall as sunlight decreases over the Arctic and the stratosphere begins to cool. — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2026 The rate gradually decreases at higher incomes and phases out at $53,250. — Bydavid Schepp, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Sep. 2026 Cooking decreases some of the sugars in corn, such as glucose, fructose, and maltose. — Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 3 Sep. 2026 Traffic on Guanella Pass also decreases significantly Monday through Thursday compared to weekends, Fulton said. — Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 3 Sep. 2026

Noun

According to an analysis from California’s nonpartisan Legislative Analyst’s Office (LAO), the tax could generate revenues in the tens of millions in the short term but cause decreases in income tax revenue in the future. — Juhi Doshi, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026 The bill also gives some legal protection for school districts against financial penalties if their arts funding decreases as a result of factors beyond their control, such as the expiration of a grant. — Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026 The district reported decreases in the number of students who are low-income, English language learners or in temporary living situations. — Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 24 Sep. 2026 The results are splendid when the duo is dealing, but when the line comes off the ice, the quality of play decreases. — Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026 But the city’s overall revenue growth is expected to be offset by decreases in property taxes and state marijuana share-back revenue. — Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 10 Sep. 2026 And these startling figures do not reflect the food crises that could be unleashed this year by rising energy and fertilizer prices, decreases in grain exports from Russia and Ukraine, and an intensifying El Niño weather pattern. — Anna Nelson, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2026 The production of only eumelanin decreases in hot, dry regions, resulting in reddish body coloration, whereas the production of both types of melanin is reduced in very cold regions, resulting in pale body coloration. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Sep. 2026 Some early studies are showing that people using AI chatbots designed with cognitive behavior therapy principles experienced decreases in symptoms of anxiety and depression, according to psychologists. — Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 31 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for decreases

Verb

Automating classification while reserving human review for high-risk cases strengthens governance, improves compliance and reduces the risk of sensitive data exposure.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026
Northrop Grumman slashes overall weight and reduces total part counts, manufacturing combat-ready autonomous jets at a fraction of typical costs.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of reduces

Verb

By effectively raising the threshold in the playoffs, the NFL acknowledges that over-officiating diminishes the product and that marginal penalties should not decide its most important games.

— Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
Subtracting LaMelo Ball and Miles Bridges somewhat diminishes the overall talent, but Charlotte wanted Miller and Knueppel to usher them into the next era.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of diminishes

Noun

Retatrutide has produced some of the largest weight loss results reported in obesity drug trials to date, and Bikman said published data on the drug demonstrate substantial reductions in liver fat, triglycerides and fasting insulin.

— Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2026
Adding creatine to an exercise and diet intervention resulted in greater reductions in body fat percentage, better preservation of lean body mass, and marked improvements in upper- and lower-body strength compared to a placebo.

— Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Definition of reductions

Verb

Chadchart said despite the heavy rain, flooding should recede once the rain subsides, as city officials are working to drain floodwaters as quickly as possible.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026
Ideally, those refugees would remain in human care for years or even decades until the mussel invasion subsides.

— CBS News, CBS News, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of subsides

Noun

Another major challenge is intensifying domestic competition and labor shortages as Japan’s birth rate declines and its population ages, Nagai said.

— Jenny Lee, CNBC, 5 Oct. 2026
This year’s drought across western Japan, with some meteorologists comparing it to the country’s worst drought in more than 30 years, is already being tied to yield declines in official data.

— Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of declines

Verb

In July, Reeves shared a brief clip of test footage of the upcoming film, which included the first proper look at Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne in a new Batsuit as what appears to be snow falls around him.

— Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Margins shrink, investment capacity falls and businesses have fewer resources to innovate or improve the underlying infrastructure.

— Sanjay Ghare, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of falls

Noun

The two-day affair brought together more than 300 brands, artists and creators, alongside product launches, installations, food and live performances, while also serving as a platform for limited-edition drops and exclusive fashion releases.

— Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 5 Oct. 2026
Opening in 2023, French Custard has now made it through a few KC winters, and Wood said people still show up for their special pint drops.

— Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of drops

Verb

As groundwater shrinks, those like Jan who can afford the upfront cost keep digging deeper; those who can’t rely on expensive tanker water or hand pumps at mosques.

— Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 6 Oct. 2026
Over the six episodes, alliances shift, egos clash, and pressure builds as the group shrinks.

— Leo Barraclough, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026