minimize
Americanverb (used with object)
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to reduce to the smallest possible amount or degree.
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to represent at the lowest possible amount, value, importance, influence, etc., especially in a disparaging way; belittle.
verb
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to reduce to or estimate at the least possible degree or amount
to minimize a risk
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to rank or treat at less than the true worth; belittle
to minimize someone's achievements
Other Word Forms
- minimization noun
- minimizer noun
- unminimized adjective
- unminimizing adjective
Etymology
Origin of minimize
Explanation
The verb minimize describes making something smaller or less serious. It typically refers to something negative that is being reduced, like when you eat at home instead of in restaurants to minimize expenses. To correctly pronounce minimize, accent the first syllable, which gets the short i sound: "MIH-nuh-mize." Minimize looks like minimum, which has the same spelling and meaning in English and Latin: smallest. To minimize something is to reduce it to its smallest amount — in size or importance. Other related words include minimal, miniscule, minute, and mini.
Vocabulary lists containing minimize
Words to Know Before You Defrost the Bird
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List 3
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Kindred
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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.
Its decision to delay the update to the Gauge was an effort to minimize disruption, he said.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026
Consumers can minimize their risk of exposure to harmful food chemicals by choosing organic produce over non-organic produce and researching the nutritional and processing information for their favorite products.
From Salon • Apr. 11, 2026
Beth Pinsker writes the Fix My Portfolio problem, which typically features advice on retirement planning, long-term investing and strategies to minimize federal income taxes.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026
And the fund has between 200 and 300 positions at any given time, which further helps to minimize the risk of any problems tied to a specific issuer or sector.
From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026
He struggled again, and I calmly wrapped him in a hug, trying to minimize the scene as much as possible.
From "Tradition" by Brendan Kiely
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
