diminish

[ dih-min-ish ]

/ dɪˈmɪn ɪʃ /

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See synonyms for: diminish / diminished / diminishes / diminishing on Thesaurus.com

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.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of diminish

1400–50; late Middle English; blend of diminuen (<Anglo-French diminuer<Medieval Latin dīminuere for Latin dēminuere to make smaller) and minishenminish

synonym study for diminish

5. See decrease.

OTHER WORDS FROM diminish

di·min·ish·a·ble, adjectivedi·min·ish·ment, nounnon·di·min·ish·ing, adjectivepre·di·min·ish, verb (used with object)

pre·di·min·ish·ment, nounun·di·min·ish·a·ble, adjectiveun·di·min·ish·a·ble·ness, nounun·di·min·ish·a·bly, adverbun·di·min·ished, adjectiveun·di·min·ish·ing, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use diminish in a sentence

It’s diminishing the presidency … We need to have the transition begin as soon as possible.
Live updates: Georgia secretary of state issues correction, saying certification of its general election results is still under way|John Wagner, Colby Itkowitz, Michelle Lee|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
To have that diminished — not that we don’t have visitation, but everyone is seeing a substantial decrease in numbers.
Plight at the Museum|Jen Trolio|November 20, 2020|Vox
You get diminishing returns after a while because it’s the same audience over and over.
‘We get nothing’: Media companies want more detailed audience, revenue breakdowns from free, ad-supported streaming TV platforms|Tim Peterson|November 18, 2020|Digiday
A $494 billion legislation package, the INVEST In America Act, was recently introduced to address America’s deteriorating highways and bridges while diminishing carbon pollution.
Smart Concrete Could Pave the Way for High-Tech, Cost-Effective Roads|Luna Lu|November 13, 2020|Singularity Hub

That record turnout did not diminish the existence of suppression, but it challenged it.
How Stacey Abrams and other Georgia activists laid the groundwork for 2020|ehinchliffe|November 6, 2020|Fortune
Chekhov has talked about this, that any designation besides writer (Russian writer, whatever) was a diminishment.
Ron Rash: How I Write|Noah Charney|February 27, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Does that increasing skill set make up for the diminishment of a rags-to-riches mythology?
American Idol at a Crossroads|Richard Rushfield|January 11, 2010|DAILY BEAST
Its population suffered some diminishment in the next two years in spite of its position on the main highway of trade.
A Man for the Ages|Irving Bacheller
Although the light was decreasing, I could perceive no diminishment in the apparent speed of the sun.
The House on the Borderland|William Hope Hodgson
But the price was a great diminishment in its geographical scope.
After the Rain|Sam Vaknin
For an instant there was no diminishment of the pace; then the horses head came down, and Jacks feet again touched earth.
Weatherby's Inning|Ralph Henry Barbour
Not that this diminishment of her handwriting in any sense lessened the effect upon me of the sentiments it conveyed.
Memoirs of a Midget|Walter de la Mare

British Dictionary definitions for diminish

diminish

/ (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

Derived forms of diminish

diminishable, adjectivediminishingly, adverbdiminishment, noun

Word Origin for diminish

C15: blend of diminuen to lessen (from Latin dēminuere to make smaller, from minuere to reduce) + archaic minish to lessen

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

diminish

Origin of diminish

synonym study for diminish

OTHER WORDS FROM diminish

Words related to diminish

How to use diminish in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for diminish

Derived forms of diminish

Word Origin for diminish