To say so should not diminish his importance.
Source: tatoeba (51084)
Diminish
/dɪˈmɪnɪʃ/
Synonyms for "diminish" (504 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (101)
Verb(20 words)
abaseabashabateabbreviateablateabradeabridgeabstractabuseadjustadjust toallayalleviateallow foralloyalteranesthetizeappeaseassuageattemper
Show 47 more words
attenuatebank the firebatebe eaten awaybelittlebenumbbluntboil downbox inbringbring downbring lowchastencheapencircumscribeclipclosecollapsecolorcompresscondenseconditionconfineconstrainconstrictconsumeconsume awaycontractcontrolcoolcorrodecropcrumblecrushcurtailcushioncutcut backcut downdampdampende emphasizede-emphasizedeadendeaden the paindebasedecay
Noun(13 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Strong matches (151)
declinedecreasedecrydeductdeflatedegradedeliquescedemeandepletedeprecatedepreciatedepressderidederogatedesiccatedetractdetract fromdevaluedie awaydie out
Show 48 more words
dilutediscountdiscreditdismissdisparagedispraisedissipatedissolvedivedockdowngradedownplaydraindraw indrift awaydroopdropdrop offdry updulldumpdump ondwarfdwindleeaseease mattersease offeat awayebberodeextenuateextractfadefade awayfailfallfall awayfall offfile awayflagfomentgive reliefgloss overgogo awaygo inhamperhedge
Verb(44 words)
Noun(33 words)
decline in activitydecline in functiondecline of civilizationdeclinesdeclining demanddecrease in concentrationdecreased biotic integritydecreasesdecreasingdecrementingdecrementsdentdentsdepletingdiedie backdilute colorless solutiondilute solutiondilutingdiluting sauce
Adjective(6 words)
Related words (252)
hedge aboutholdhumiliateignoreimpairkeep within boundslanguishlapselayleachleavenlenifylessenlet uplightenlimitloplourlowerlull
Show 138 more words
make allowance formeltmelt awayminceminifyminimizemitigatemoderatemodifymodulatemollifymove awaymove offnarrownumbobtundovershadowpadpalepalliateparepeter outpineplayplay downplummetplungepoulticepour balm intopour oil onprunepullpull awaypurifyput downqualifyrebaterecedereducereduce the temperaturerefineregulateregulate byrejectrelaxrelieveremitremoverestrainrestrictretireretreatretrenchretrocederoll backrub awayrun downrun lowsagsalvescalescale downsearseasonset conditionsset downset limitsshaveshortenshrinkshrivelsimplifysinkslackslackenslakeslightslow downslur oversmothersnapesobersober downsoft pedalsoft-pedalsoftensoothestand offstemstepstep downstiflestraitenstupesubductsubduesubsidesubtractsuffersuppresstail offtaketake awaytake downtake fromtake the edge offtalktametapertaper offtemperthinthin outtone downtrailtrip uptruncatetune downunderplayvarnishvilifyvitiatevituperatewanewastewaste awayweakenwearwear awayweedwhitewashwiden the distancewiltwind downwithdrawwitherwizenwrite off
Verb(53 words)
hinderimpairedlameslanguishedlessenedlessenslilliputianizeloseslower potential energyloweredlowersminceminimiseminimizemitigatedmitigatesneuteredoozepeteringquiet
Show 33 more words
Adjective(6 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: belittle, decrease, lessen, lower, reduce.
- Sentence evidence is available for diminish, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wiktionary, wordnet, opengloss, moby, 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 "diminish".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "diminish"
Keep "diminish" 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 "diminish" 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 "diminish", 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 "diminish" 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
6 entriesMore specific
11 entriesCollocations
6 entriesdiminish confidencediminish costsdiminish impactdiminish risksdiminish valuediminishing returns
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
6 entriesSample sentences
21 total sentences available.
With no supply of water from trees, rainfalls diminish in time and the area keeps drying up.
Source: tatoeba (266242)
Tom was accused of lying to the court in an effort to diminish his culpability.
Source: tatoeba (3277832)
“O Allah, You created me when I was not worthy of mention; And You provided for me when I had nothing; And I wronged my soul and sinned, and I confess my guilt. If You forgive me, that will in no way diminish Your sovereignty; And if You punish me, that will in no way augment Your authority. You can find others to punish besides me, But I can find no one to forgive me but You. Truly, You are the most merciful of those who show mercy.”
Source: tatoeba (3355326)
Showing 4 of 21 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "diminish"?
Closest matches include belittle, decrease, lessen, lower, reduce.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "diminish"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.