Water will attenuate the signal.
Source: tatoeba (8860422)
Attenuate
/əˈten.jʉˌæɪt/
Synonyms for "attenuate" (208 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (42)
Adjective(1 words)
Strong matches (62)
Related words (104)
insubstantialirrigatelacylay lowlessenlightlightenmaceratemistymitigatepaperyparchpreshrinkpubescentrarerarefiedrarefyrattlereducereedy
Show 62 more words
refinedremitsanforizesapsatinsatinysearshakeshake upshrinkshrivelsilkyslackenslenderslightslimslinkysmallsmoothsoften upspiritualizesubtilesubtilizesubtlesveltesylphliketake the edge offtenuousthinthin awaythin downthin outthinnedthreadliketwiggyunbraceundermineunmanunnerveunstrengthenunstringunsubstantialvaguevaporousvelvetyvolatilizewasp waistedwastewaste awaywaterwater downwatered downwateryweakweakenweazenwillowywindywiredrawnwispywitherwizen
Noun(11 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: diminish, weaken, abate, abbreviate, adulterate.
- Sentence evidence is available for attenuate, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wiktionary, opengloss, moby, derived_reverse, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "attenuate".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "attenuate"
Keep "attenuate" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "attenuate" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "attenuate", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "attenuate" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
4 entriesMore specific
8 entriesCollocations
5 entriesattenuate impactattenuate lightattenuate noiseattenuate riskattenuate signal
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
2 entriessimilar
2 entriesTranslations
18 translations across 10 languages.
Bulgarian
1 entries- намалявам verb (To reduce)
Catalan
1 entries- atenuar verb (To reduce)
Esperanto
1 entries- atenui verb (To reduce)
French
1 entries- atténuer verb (To reduce)
Georgian
1 entries- მილევა verb (To reduce)
German
4 entries- abmagern verb (To reduce)
- abschwächen verb (To reduce)
- dämpfen verb (To reduce)
- reduzieren verb (To reduce)
Romanian
1 entries- atenua verb (To reduce)
Serbo-Croatian
1 entries- smanjiti verb (To reduce)
Spanish
1 entries- atenuar verb (To reduce)
Swedish
3 entries- förminska verb (To reduce)
- försvaga verb (To reduce)
- minska verb (To reduce)
Sample sentences
9 total sentences available.
Rousseff said that the intensity of Brazil's downturn caught her by surprise and that she would do "whatever it takes" to attenuate it.
Source: tatoeba (10194876)
He also pointed to a robust U.S. reconstruction effort in Iraq, which he said is beginning to improve the everyday lives of Iraqis and attenuate public sympathy for the insurgents.
Source: tatoeba (10194879)
A manor-house clock from the far depths of shadow struck the hour, one, in a small, attenuated tone.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 9 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "attenuate"?
Closest matches include diminish, weaken, abate, abbreviate, adulterate.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "attenuate"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.