lessened 1 of 2

adjective

as in diminished

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lessened

2 of 2

verb

past tense of lessen
1
as in reduced
to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent we lessened our efforts as it became clear they weren't having an effect

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2
as in decreased
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually the pain should begin to lessen within minutes of taking the medication

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3
as in weakened
to lower in character, dignity, or quality blatant hypocrisy that lessened him in the eyes of the voters

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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 lessened
Adjective
Kuminga then saw a combination of injuries and uneven performances lead to lessened playing time before eventually falling out of the rotation altogether. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026 Mitigators work in the other direction, articulating a spectrum of factors that might support lessened punishment, such as the defendant having no prior criminal record, or acting under significant duress. — Literary Hub, 20 Jan. 2026 After taking a lessened role in 2025, Texas Tech cornerback Maurion Horn will enter the transfer portal with one year of eligibility remaining, per multiple reports. — Ty Kaplan, Dallas Morning News, 2 Jan. 2026 An overloaded dryer leads to lessened airflow and, therefore, extended dry time. — Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Dec. 2025
Verb
Though the rate of killing has lessened today, with some states restricting the shooting of prairie dogs, they’re still widely considered pests among ranchers. — Shi En Kim, AZCentral.com, 21 Sep. 2026 There were three rookie quarterbacks starting the opener in three of the previous five seasons as teams have become quicker to turn over the reins as the differences between the college and pro games have lessened. — ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026 However, nearly everything about the American approach to these concerns has lessened European confidence in Washington’s leadership and decision making. — Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 27 Aug. 2026 It's become harder for NFL scouts to evaluate a prospect's hunger, but the fears of how players will react to making money have lessened. — Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2026 The safety concerns that come with bipedal robots—such as potentially falling over on a human worker—are lessened because a shipyard environment is staffed with workers who are trained to work around potentially dangerous industrial equipment. — Evan Ackerman, IEEE Spectrum, 17 Aug. 2026 Rutherford shares that, until now, a voyage like his would not have been possible, but warmer climates globally have drastically lessened the ice in the Arctic. — Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 18 July 2026 Likewise, the respite afforded by the twin hydration breaks has also reduced the need for improvised periods of gentlemanly repose, which in turn has lessened the demand for the chilly spray. — Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 17 July 2026 The decision doesn’t automatically remove him from the Cy Young conversation, but his workload, lessened by the six-man rotation, was already the biggest adjustment to his campaign. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 10 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lessened
  1. reduced
  2. decreased
  3. diminished
  4. weakened
  5. consumed
  6. subsided
  7. deteriorated
  8. depleted
Adjective
  • If a community decides the potential benefits of such a project (jobs and reduced taxes, for example) outweigh its costs, the municipality should be able to move forward.
    — Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Backers of the measure say the parks department provides an essential safety net for the city’s low-income residents, offering summer camps, sports activities and senior programs for free or at reduced prices.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of reduced
Verb
  • This means any slowdown in the labor market could create a more serious consumption problem, with the same households facing slower income growth and decreased access to credit.
    — Harvey Stober, CNBC, 4 Oct. 2026
  • And the number of young people who stayed on medication for six months — already quite low — may have actually decreased.
    — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of decreased
Verb
  • That is quite far apart from the commercial industry, which actually stands to be diminished by these policy reforms.
    — Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 7 Oct. 2026
  • By raw numbers, net domestic out-migration of Californians to other states continues even as the California exodus overall has diminished in strength.
    — Terry Castleman, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of diminished
Verb
  • Lower-ticket maintenance items have held steadier in sales, which can help to prop up the top line, but the per-store productivity weakened even where top-line sales looked flat, Graff said.
    — Kevin Williams, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The region’s long investment in coal and steel became a trap once the economic basis for those industries weakened.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of weakened
Adjective
  • Kennedy’s new pyramid places meat, dairy, fruit, and vegetables at the top (most consumed), and tapers down through fruits and vegetables to whole grains.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 31 July 2026
  • In Stoddart’s estimation, the best way to freeze these semi-consumed cakes is in slices.
    — Taylor Tobin, Southern Living, 2 Dec. 2025
Definition of consumed
Verb
  • But as the initial euphoria of the rescue has subsided, officials have begun to raise difficult questions and trade accusations about the security blunders that could have led to a major disaster.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Questions about security failures But as the initial euphoria of the rescue has subsided, officials have begun to raise difficult questions and trade accusations about the security blunders that could have led to a major disaster.
    — Melanie Lidman, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of subsided
Verb
  • The central bank's monthly Survey of Consumer Expectations found that consumers expect inflation to be even higher a year from now, while perceptions about their own financial standing deteriorated.
    — Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 7 Oct. 2026
  • However, as Germany’s economic problems — slow growth, high inflation, rising energy prices — have worsened, public sentiment toward the newcomers has deteriorated.
    — Kirsten Grieshaber, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of deteriorated
Adjective
  • The technology is intended to support DUF6 deconversion, a process used to convert depleted uranium hexafluoride into more stable chemical forms.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2026
  • If people are simply producing more while working just as long and feeling more depleted, AI has increased output, not productivity.
    — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of depleted

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Cite this Entry

“Lessened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lessened. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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