diminished

/dəˈmɪnɪʃt/

/dɪˈmɪnɪʃt/

If you drive through a tunnel, you’ll notice that your cell phone reception is diminished. When something is diminished, it’s been weakened or lessened.

Diminished is an adjective used when something has lost its power, prestige, or worth. The value of a car, for instance, is diminished over time by wear and tear. In some instances, diminished means "belittled," or made to seem like less in the face of something perceived as better or greater. The popularity of a laptop, for instance, will be diminished if a cheaper, more powerful model is released. Leaders and politicians who get involved in scandals often suffer diminished reputations.

Definitions of diminished

1. adjective

   made to seem smaller or less (especially in worth)
   synonyms: belittled, small

   decreased, reduced

   made less in size or amount or degree
2. adjective

   impaired by diminution
   synonyms: lessened, vitiated, weakened

   impaired

   diminished in strength, quality, or utility
3. adjective

   (of an organ or body part) diminished in size or strength as a result of disease or injury or lack of use
   synonyms: atrophied, wasted
4. adjective

   (of musical intervals) reduction by a semitone of any perfect or minor musical interval
   “a diminished fifth”

   synonyms:

   decreased, reduced

   made less in size or amount or degree