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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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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

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

How to use diminish in a sentence

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
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