diminish

/dəˈmɪnɪʃ/

/dɪˈmɪnɪʃ/

Other forms: diminished; diminishing; diminishes

Diminish means to make smaller or lesser. If you cover a lightbulb with a dark lamp shade, the light from the lamp will diminish.

It can also mean become less important. Once the light has been dimmed, its role in lighting the room is diminished. If you look at diminish, you see 'minis' which comes from the Latin word minus, as in subtraction. Other words that share this root are miniature and minuscule, all of which mean something that is small, or at least smallish.

Definitions of diminish

1. verb

   decrease in size, extent, or range
   synonyms: decrease, fall, lessen

   types:

   break

   diminish or discontinue abruptly

   shrink, shrivel

   decrease in size, range, or extent

   taper

   diminish gradually

   drop off

   fall or diminish

   fly, vanish, vaporize

   decrease rapidly and disappear

   break

   fall sharply

   ease off, ease up, flag, slacken off

   become less intense

   weaken

   become weaker

   boil down, concentrate, decoct, reduce

   be cooked until very little liquid is left

   contract, shrink

   become smaller or draw together

   shrink, shrivel, shrivel up, wither

   wither, as with a loss of moisture

   abate, die away, let up, slack, slack off

   become less in amount or intensity

   deflate

   become deflated or flaccid, as by losing air

   dwindle, dwindle away, dwindle down

   become smaller or lose substance

   remit

   diminish or abate

   de-escalate

   diminish in size, scope, or intensity

   depreciate, devaluate, devalue, undervalue

   lose in value

   shorten

   become short or shorter

   thin out

   become sparser

   decline, go down, wane

   grow smaller

   wane

   decrease in phase

   wane

   become smaller

   decelerate, retard, slow, slow down, slow up

   lose velocity; move more slowly

   decrescendo

   grow quieter

   atrophy

   undergo weakening or degeneration as through lack of use

   attenuate

   become weaker, in strength, value, or magnitude

   disappear, evaporate, melt

   become less intense and fade away gradually

   die down

   become progressively weaker

   collapse

   lose significance, effectiveness, or value

   fade, melt

   become less clearly visible or distinguishable; disappear gradually or seemingly

   lessen, subside

   wear off or die down

   blast

   shrivel or wither or mature imperfectly

   die back, die down

   suffer from a disease that kills shoots

   dry up, mummify

   dry up and shrivel due to complete loss of moisture

   blur, dim, slur

   become vague or indistinct

   languish, pine away, waste

   lose vigor, health, or flesh, as through grief

   dull

   make less lively or vigorous

   pall

   lose strength or effectiveness; become or appear boring, insipid, or tiresome (to)

   loose, loosen, relax

   become loose or looser or less tight

   slacken

   become looser or slack

   dip

   go down momentarily

   wear on

   pass slowly (of time)

   drop

   go down in value

   slack, slacken, slow, slow down, slow up

   become slow or slower

   slow, slow down, slow up

   cause to proceed more slowly

   delay, detain, hold up

   cause to be slowed down or delayed

   wilt

   lose strength

   flex

   contract

   type of:

   change magnitude

   change in size or magnitude
2. verb

   lessen the authority, dignity, or reputation of
   synonyms: belittle

   type of:

   decrease, lessen, minify

   make smaller