diminution

/ˈdɪməˌnuʃən/

Other forms: diminutions

When you "dim" a light, you reduce the brightness coming from the bulb. Diminution (not actually related to "dim") is the lessening of something to a smaller size or lower status, as a diminution of your "superpowers" when you wake up from a dream.

Pronouncing diminution (dim-ih-NYOO-shun) only seems to get harder the more you repeat it, but memorizing the meaning and sounds with "diminish" and "ammunition" helps. If you take away the firepower in a battle, for example, you diminish the ammunition, causing a diminution of the army's power. A diminution is a decrease of size, time, or esteem. Does the word still sound funny? Let's try a diminution, or reduction, of the number of times we say it — starting now.

Definitions of diminution

1. noun

   change toward something smaller or lower
   synonyms: decline

   types:

   declension, decline in quality, deterioration, worsening

   the process of changing to an inferior state

   detumescence

   diminution of swelling; the subsidence of anything swollen

   ebb, ebbing, wane

   a gradual decline (in size or strength or power or number)

   erosion

   a gradual decline of something

   loss

   gradual decline in amount or activity

   nosedive

   a sudden sharp drop or rapid decline

   sinking spell

   a temporary decline in health or value

   slippage

   decline from a standard level of performance or achievement

   epilation

   loss of hair; the result of removing hair

   reducing

   loss of excess weight (as by dieting); becoming slimmer

   drop-off, falling off, falloff, slack, slump

   a noticeable deterioration in performance or quality

   type of:

   decrease, decrement

   a process of becoming smaller or shorter
2. noun

   the act of decreasing or reducing something
   synonyms: decrease, reduction, step-down

   types:

   cut

   the act of reducing the amount or number

   mitigation, moderation

   the action of lessening in severity or intensity

   lowering

   the act of causing to become less

   cutback

   a reduction in quantity or rate

   devaluation

   the reduction of something's value or worth

   devitalisation, devitalization

   the act of reducing the vitality of something

   extenuation, mitigation, palliation

   to act in such a way as to cause an offense to seem less serious

   alleviation, easement, easing, relief

   the act of reducing something unpleasant (as pain or annoyance)

   de-escalation

   (war) a reduction in intensity (of a crisis or a war)

   minimisation, minimization

   the act of reducing something to the least possible amount or degree or position

   depletion

   the act of decreasing something markedly

   shortening

   act of decreasing in length

   shrinking

   the act of becoming less

   deduction, subtraction

   the act of subtracting (removing a part from the whole)

   deflation

   the act of letting the air out of something

   deduction, discount, price reduction

   the act of reducing the selling price of merchandise

   rollback

   reducing prices back to some earlier level

   weakening

   the act of reducing the strength of something

   depreciation

   a decrease in price or value

   contraction

   the act of decreasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope

   reverse split, reverse stock split, split down

   a decrease in the number of outstanding shares of a corporation without changing the shareholders' equity

   amortisation, amortization

   the reduction of the value of an asset by prorating its cost over a period of years

   declassification

   reduction or removal by the government of restrictions on a classified document or weapon

   shelter, tax shelter

   a way of organizing business to reduce the taxes it must pay on current earnings

   tax credit

   a direct reduction in tax liability (not dependent on the taxpayer's tax bracket)

   budget cut

   the act of reducing budgeted expenditures

   pay cut, salary cut

   the act of reducing a salary

   cost cutting

   the act of cutting costs

   price cut, price cutting

   cutting the price of merchandise to one lower than the usual or advertised price

   spending cut

   the act of reducing spending

   tax cut

   the act of reducing taxation

   tapering

   the act of gradually lowering the size or amount

   service cutback

   the act of reducing service

   evisceration

   altering something (as a legislative act or a statement) in such a manner as to reduce its value

   spasmolysis

   the relaxation or relief of muscle spasms

   detente

   the easing of tensions or strained relations (especially between nations)

   palliation

   easing the severity of a pain or a disease without removing the cause

   liberalisation, liberalization, relaxation

   the act of making less strict

   consumption, expenditure, using up

   the act of consuming something

   exhaustion

   the act of exhausting something entirely

   decompressing, decompression

   relieving pressure (especially bringing a compressed person gradually back to atmospheric pressure)

   abbreviation

   shortening something by omitting parts of it

   cut, cutting, cutting off

   the act of shortening something by chopping off the ends

   miniaturisation, miniaturization

   act of making on a greatly reduced scale

   bite

   a portion removed from the whole

   withholding

   the act of deducting from an employee's salary

   abatement

   the act of abating

   wilt, wilting

   causing to become limp or drooping

   dilution

   weakening (reducing the concentration) by the addition of water or a thinner

   etiolation

   the act of weakening by stunting the growth or development of something

   contraction, muscle contraction, muscular contraction

   (physiology) a shortening or tensing of a part or organ (especially of a muscle or muscle fiber)

   truncation

   the act of cutting short

   drain

   a gradual depletion of energy or resources

   tax avoidance

   the minimization of tax liability by lawful methods

   dilution

   the act of weakening the power, value, or content of something

   type of:

   change of magnitude

   the act of changing the amount or size of something
3. noun

   the statement of a theme in notes of lesser duration (usually half the length of the original)
   antonyms:

   augmentation

   the statement of a theme in notes of greater duration (usually twice the length of the original)

   type of:

   statement

   (music) the presentation of a musical theme