minimize

American  

[min-uh-mahyz] / ˈmɪn əˌmaɪz /

especially British, minimise

verb (used with object)

• minimizes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• minimized,
  past participle,  past
• minimizing
  present participle

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

Derived Forms

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

Inflected Forms

Participles

• minimizing
  present
• minimized
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• minimize
  simple
• minimizes
  simple
• have minimized
  perfect
• has minimized
  perfect
• am minimizing
  progressive
• are minimizing
  progressive
• is minimizing
  progressive
• have been minimizing
  perfect progressive
• has been minimizing
  perfect progressive

Past

• minimized
  simple
• had minimized
  perfect
• was minimizing
  progressive
• were minimizing
  progressive
• had been minimizing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will minimize
  simple
• will have minimized
  perfect
• will be minimizing
  progressive
• will have been minimizing
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of minimize

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

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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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

minimize minimizes minimized minimizing

How should they manage their money to minimize income taxes?

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026

“We need to improve loneliness and minimize social isolation.”

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 6, 2026

In a statement to The Times on Saturday, Gastélum said news of Zayas’ arrest is “an important step toward answers and accountability for Bruce’s family” but does not minimize the loss of Rodriguez.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026

Their results suggest that the effort and restrictions required to minimize every glucose fluctuation could make it harder for some people to enjoy everyday activities.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 28, 2026

“A sanitizer. We use it to get rid of surface germs. It’s a clean lab, so we try to minimize contaminants.”

From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste

This minimizes the risk of traumatization while putting the investigative focus where it belongs, which is on establishing the conduct of those accused.

From Slate ● Oct. 2, 2026

Ms. Southon rightly appreciates that manumission was a tool of slave-owners’ power, but she excessively minimizes how common it was.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

As for your dinner: Anyone who minimizes your agency — whether it’s a friend or an acquaintance who is selling you something — is to be avoided.

From MarketWatch ● May 27, 2026

"Anyone who minimizes violence against women and girls is not voicing an isolated opinion, but revealing a complacent attitude toward abuse," the center said in a statement.

From Barron's ● Feb. 19, 2026

Two cultures: one emphasizes the difference between Evidence-Indices and Evidence-Perspicuity; the other minimizes it.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Sun reported her exit and minimized screen time.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026

"Strikingly, when this receptor was removed from the mice, the development of arterial plaques dropped significantly in some areas and disruptions to the gut microbiome were minimized."

From Science Daily ● Jun. 9, 2026

Over a quarter of UBS family offices surveyed for an annual report said they have minimized or plan to cut their holdings in dollar assets.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 28, 2026

Noelle also implies — falsely — that cardio exercise can “throw your hormones off” and should be minimized, or even avoided.

From Salon ● May 8, 2026

As much as Jus hates that the death of his best friend was minimized by the hung jury, he can’t begin to imagine what Manny’s parents must be going through.

From "Dear Martin" by Nic Stone

“Understanding how quickly that population is growing will help us think about things like minimizing traffic collisions,” Spasojevic said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026

WSJ | Buy Side: From choosing the best income options to minimizing tax burdens, retirement requires careful strategizing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026

One alternative is always to buy slowly and in stages, minimizing the painful risk of buying right at the peak.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 9, 2026

Tokenized trading will also support traded companies seeking innovative ways to reach investors, while also easing the movement of assets between different corners of the market and minimizing “isolated pools of liquidity,” the exchange said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 1, 2026

Pollard had delivered a masterpiece of reinsmanship, avoiding the traps and saving ground while minimizing his run along the boggy rail.

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand

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Related Words

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

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