abate

[ uh-beyt ]

/ əˈbeɪt /

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See synonyms for: abate / abated / abating on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), a·bat·ed, a·bat·ing.

to reduce in amount, degree, intensity, etc.; lessen; diminish: to abate a tax;to abate one's enthusiasm.

Law.

to put an end to or suppress (a nuisance).
to suspend or extinguish (an action).
to annul (a writ).

to deduct or subtract: to abate part of the cost.

to omit: to abate all mention of names.

to remove, as in stone carving, or hammer down, as in metalwork, (a portion of a surface) in order to produce a figure or pattern in low relief.

verb (used without object), a·bat·ed, a·bat·ing.

to diminish in intensity, violence, amount, etc.: The storm has abated.The pain in his shoulder finally abated.

Law. to end; become null and void.

OTHER WORDS FOR abate

1 decrease, weaken.

6 subside.

See synonyms for abate on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR abate

1, 6 increase, intensify.

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have

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Origin of abate

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Middle French abatre “to beat down,” equivalent to a- a-⁵ + batre, from Late Latin batere for Latin battuere “to beat”; a- perhaps also understood as a-³

OTHER WORDS FROM abate

a·bat·a·ble, adjectivea·bat·er; Law. a·ba·tor, nounun·a·bat·a·ble, adjectiveun·a·bat·ing, adjective

un·a·bat·ing·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use abate in a sentence

Cruz’s focus on wringing attention out of an attention-choked Washington system hasn’t abated during his second term.
As Ted Cruz has learned, once you step into the spotlight, you can’t easily step out|Philip Bump|February 18, 2021|Washington Post
Bonds may now be a bit oversold and because of that, I expect the sell-off will abate in the coming week.
Mortgage rates shoot up to highest levels since mid-November|Kathy Orton|February 18, 2021|Washington Post
International denunciation of American racial practices abated substantially after Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
For generations, African Americans have led global antiracist movements|Brenda Plummer|February 18, 2021|Washington Post
Other evidence in the case showed that at the same time that McKinsey was working with opioid companies to boost their sales, it was advising governments and nonprofit groups on how to abate the crisis.
McKinsey, adviser to businesses around the world, agrees to pay $573.9 million to settle charges for its role in opioid epidemic|Peter Whoriskey, Christopher Rowland|February 5, 2021|Washington Post

The Heat is the first NBA team to try this approach to keeping its arena as safe as it can amid a pandemic that has yet to abate and probably won’t for at least several more months.
Miami Heat to use coronavirus-sniffing dogs to allow some fans back into arena|Des Bieler|January 22, 2021|Washington Post
And still the fire-deluge abates not: even women are firing, and Turks; at least one woman (with her sweetheart), and one Turk.
A Wanderer in Paris|E. V. Lucas
The pulse itself abates its fevered beat, and the heart is quieted down into harmony with the gentler pulse of nature.
The Hearth-Stone|Samuel Osgood
They turn to the land, the old man goes on board, and the storm abates.
The Elder Eddas of Saemund Sigfusson; and the Younger Eddas of Snorre Sturleson|Saemund Sigfusson and Snorre Sturleson
And abates nothing of heart or hope;—praying withal, immensely, she and her People, according to the mode they have.
History of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. XV. (of XXI.)|Thomas Carlyle
Stop here until the violence of your fever abates, and then you can come up with Dunbar's rear division.
From Farm House to the White House|William M. Thayer

British Dictionary definitions for abate

abate

/ (əˈbeɪt) /

verb

to make or become less in amount, intensity, degree, etcthe storm has abated

(tr) law

to remove, suppress, or terminate (a nuisance)
to suspend or extinguish (a claim or action)
to annul (a writ)

(intr) law (of a writ, legal action, etc) to become null and void

(tr) to subtract or deduct, as part of a price

Word Origin for abate

C14: from Old French abatre to beat down, fell

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

abate

OTHER WORDS FOR abate

OPPOSITES FOR abate

Origin of abate

OTHER WORDS FROM abate

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How to use abate in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for abate

Word Origin for abate