minimize

American  

[min-uh-mahyz] / ˈmɪn əˌmaɪz /

especially British, minimise

verb (used with object)

minimized, minimizing

1. to reduce to the smallest possible amount or degree.

2. to represent at the lowest possible amount, value, importance, influence, etc., especially in a disparaging way; belittle.

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minimize British  

/ ˈmɪnɪˌmaɪz /

verb

1. to reduce to or estimate at the least possible degree or amount

   to minimize a risk

2. to rank or treat at less than the true worth; belittle

   to minimize someone's achievements

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Other Word Forms

• minimization noun
• minimizer noun
• unminimized adjective
• unminimizing adjective

Etymology

Origin of minimize

First recorded in 1795–1805; minim(um) + -ize

Example Sentences

AI promises to minimize at least some of the unwanted byproducts of progress.

From The Wall Street Journal

“We’re repositioning aircraft, aligning crew resources and reinforcing staffing at key airports while coordinating with our partners to help minimize disruption and set the stage for a fast, safe recovery once conditions improve,” American said.

From Barron's

“If I’m syncing with you, my prediction error is minimized,” says Dr. Oliver Saunders Wilder, an interpersonal synchrony researcher affiliated with MIT’s Affective Computing Group.

From The Wall Street Journal

“We’d like to see those minimized and use the money elsewhere.”

From Los Angeles Times

Yet it isn’t lost on investors that stocks quickly surged after those tariffs were paused, then mostly negotiated down and otherwise minimized.

From MarketWatch

Related Words

• curtail
• decrease
• diminish
• downplay
• lessen
• play down
• reduce
• trivialize
• underestimate