minimize

[ min-uh-mahyz ]

/ ˈmɪn əˌmaɪz /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR minimize ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), min·i·mized, min·i·miz·ing.

to reduce to the smallest possible amount or degree.

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

Words nearby minimize

minimally invasive, minimarket, minimart, minimax, minimill, minimize, minimoon, minimoto, minimum, minimum lending rate, minimum thermometer

Also especially British, min·i·mise.

Origin of minimize

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

OTHER WORDS FROM minimize

min·i·mi·za·tion, nounmin·i·miz·er, nounun·min·i·mized, adjectiveun·min·i·miz·ing, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH minimize

minimal minimize minimum minuscule minutia (see usage note at minuscule)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for minimize

We coo over how cute our cat is and minimize the drudgery of cleaning the litter box.
Why Didn’t Camille Dump Bill Cosby?|Amanda Marcotte|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“To minimize sprawl” has become a bedrock catchphrase of the core political ideology.
The Progressives’ War on Suburbia|Joel Kotkin|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When used outside of major urban areas, they minimize the risk of civilian casualties and requirements for granular intelligence.
Who the U.S. Should Really Hit in ISIS|Daniel Trombly, Yasir Abbas|September 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Now, one company is trying to minimize the potential danger of these (often necessary and life-saving) machines.
Are Routine Scans Causing Cancer?|Dale Eisinger|September 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST

“We wanted to minimize the risks,” says the senior State Department official.
U.S. Diplomats and Marines Close Embassy and Flee Libya Fighting|Jamie Dettmer|July 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The prevailing idea was to give an operator a good big job to minimize that item of expense.
The Knack of Managing|Lewis K. Urquhart and Herbert Watson
A good yardmaster knows instinctively where to be at a certain time to minimize the delay incident to engines bunching.
Letters from an Old Railway Official|Charles DeLano Hine
Opening the window, he climbed out and crossed the cobbled courtyard, trying to minimize his limp.
When the Owl Cries|Paul Bartlett
A card index to the vertical file might be made to minimize the difficulties of the classed arrangement.
Papers and Proceedings of the Thirty-fourth Annual Meeting of the American Library Association Held at Ottawa, Canada June 26-July 2, 1912|Various
By this means I minimize the chance of a weak or too strong shot.
Automatic Pistol Shooting|Walter Winans

British Dictionary definitions for minimize

minimize

minimise

/ (ˈmɪnɪˌmaɪz) /

verb (tr)

to reduce to or estimate at the least possible degree or amountto minimize a risk

to rank or treat at less than the true worth; belittleto minimize someone's achievements

Derived forms of minimize

minimization or minimisation, nounminimizer or minimiser, noun

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

minimize

verb (used with object), min·i·mized, min·i·miz·ing.

Content related to minimize

Words related to minimize

Words nearby minimize

Origin of minimize

OTHER WORDS FROM minimize

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH minimize

Examples from the Web for minimize

British Dictionary definitions for minimize

minimise

verb (tr)

Derived forms of minimize