Synonyms

diminish

American

[dih-min-ish] / dɪˈmɪn ɪʃ /

verb (used with object)

to make or cause to seem smaller, less, less important, etc.; lessen; reduce.
Architecture. to give (a column) a form tapering inward from bottom to top.
Music. to make (an interval) smaller by a chromatic half step than the corresponding perfect or minor interval.
to detract from the authority, honor, stature, or reputation of; disparage.

verb (used without object)

to lessen; decrease.

diminish British

/ dɪˈmɪnɪʃ /

verb

to make or become smaller, fewer, or less
(tr) architect to cause (a column, etc) to taper
(tr) music to decrease (a minor or perfect interval) by a semitone
to belittle or be belittled; reduce in authority, status, etc; depreciate

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Usage

What does diminish mean? To diminish is to become smaller, fewer, or less, as in If we don’t order more, our stock of supplies will slowly diminish until we run out completely. It can also mean to make smaller, fewer, or less, as in We need to diminish our reliance on fossil fuels. Close synonyms of these senses of diminish are reduce, decrease, and lessen. Diminish can also be used in less literal ways. It can mean to make something seem smaller or less significant, as in The senator tried to diminish his role in the scandal. The verb downplay is used in a similar way. To diminish a person is to reduce or take away from their stature, reputation, or authority in some way—to belittle or disparage them, as in The new tell-all book is clearly an attempt to diminish a man who is regarded as a legend in his field. Example: My interest in sports has diminished since I was a kid—I’m only a casual fan now.

Synonym Usage

See decrease.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of diminish

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English; blend of diminuen (from Anglo-French diminuer, from Medieval Latin dīminuere, from Latin dēminuere “to make smaller”) and minishen minish

Explanation

Diminish means to make smaller or lesser. If you cover a lightbulb with a dark lamp shade, the light from the lamp will diminish. It can also mean become less important. Once the light has been dimmed, its role in lighting the room is diminished. If you look at diminish, you see 'minis' which comes from the Latin word minus, as in subtraction. Other words that share this root are miniature and minuscule, all of which mean something that is small, or at least smallish.

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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

diminish diminishes diminished diminishing

Standards, such as the number of children a teacher can supervise, would soon be under local control, leading to variations across the country, which Head Start advocates worry could diminish the quality of the program.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026

"It's really important - that when somebody else tries to grab the microphone and diminish what you're doing - you grab it back."

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026

"It does not include a corresponding power to diminish or eliminate national monuments. Instead, only Congress can do that, with the passage of a new law."

From Barron's ● Jul. 13, 2026

But even in that case, Burke thinks free cash flow would shift among vendors but not diminish.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 9, 2026

“Were they like the creatures you saw, Ruta Skadi?” said Serafina as they slowed down in the middle airs, watching the bright flames diminish toward the horizon.

From "The Subtle Knife" by Philip Pullman

When the temperature difference diminishes between the warmer western Pacific and the cooler eastern Pacific, the typical east-to-west trade winds decrease even further.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 13, 2026

“It diminishes the role and degree of professionalism that teaching requires.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 4, 2026

It also calls for zero tolerance of bullying or misogyny from No 10 staff and parliamentarians, as well as unprofessional behaviour that diminishes the contributions of women.

From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026

Which rather diminishes the headline, the lede, and the whole rationale for putting the story on the front page.

From Slate ● Jun. 24, 2026

He didn’t suffer, as many “honest men” do, from the detestable righteousness that diminishes their virtue.

From "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou

Hollow Pond in East London was seen diminished in size.

From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026

As people live longer, social isolation can be a risk for older adults, who may face obstacles such as diminished mobility, limited access to transportation and often, the loss of a loved one or caregiver.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026

It is a finding that, if it holds true as AI continues to develop, could point to a future where the demand for highly skilled workers is accentuated rather than diminished.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026

To be fair, Homan was not the only administration official diminished by the episode.

From Salon ● Jul. 21, 2026

Column space for joking articles about ghosts and gossip diminished as the idea of Southern secession grew more common.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

Foulkes said outboards could get even more powerful, though they could reach a point of diminishing returns.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 27, 2026

“Washington appears to have reached the point where more of the same was producing diminishing returns,” Stephen Innes, managing partner at SPI Asset Management, wrote in a weekend note.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 26, 2026

Aiyar believes the movement has tapped into broader anxieties over a slowing economy, scarce jobs and a deepening sense that the future offers diminishing opportunities.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

But an Economist/YouGov poll conducted in recent days found that support diminishing.

From Slate ● Jul. 23, 2026

Working with her new husband, Pierre, Curie found that certain kinds of rocks poured out constant and extraordinary amounts of energy, yet without diminishing in size or changing in any detectable way.

From "A Short History of Nearly Everything" by Bill Bryson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023