Though Alfred is scrupulous in fulfilling his duties at work, he is less conscientious about his obligations at home.
Source: tatoeba (1985)
Usage Contextgeneralediting
Note: Use for uncountable amounts in formal writing.
Less
/lɛs/
Synonyms for "less" (105 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (21)
abatedablatedat a disadvantageat the nadirattenuatedbarringbatedbelittledbelowbelow the markcommonconsumedcontractedcurtaileddecreaseddecreasinglydecrescendodeflateddemeaningdiminished
Show 1 more word
Strong matches (32)
diminuendodisadvantageddiscountingdissipateddroppederodedever lessexceptexceptingexception taken ofexcludingexclusive offallenfewerfromhumblein the gutterin the shadeinferiorinfra dig
Adjective(1 words)
Adverb(1 words)
lower amount
Related words (52)
lowlyminiaturizedminimizedminorminusmodestnot countingnot so muchoffordinaryreducedretrenchedsanssavescaled-downsecond ranksecond stringsecondaryservileshorn
Show 21 more words
short ofshortershrunkshrunkensmallersubsubalternsubjectsubordinatesubservientthird rankthird stringunderunder parunderprivilegedvulgarwatered downwatered-downweakenedwithoutworn
Noun(4 words)
minus signmore hidden enclavenot as muchnot more
Adverb(6 words)
reduced amountreduced degreereduced quantitysmaller amountsmaller extentto a lesser extent
Adjective(1 words)
smaller number
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: abated, ablated, at a disadvantage, at the nadir, attenuated.
- Sentence evidence is available for less, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, opengloss, wordnet, 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 "less".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "less"
Keep "less" 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 "less" 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 "less", 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 "less" 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
5 entriesMore specific
9 entriesless moneyless sugarless waterlower amountlower quantityreduced amountreduced extentsmaller amountsmaller quantity
Collocations
8 entriesless attentionless dataless effortless energyless moneyless noiseless sugarless time
Derivations
3 entriesAntonyms
2 entriessimilar
4 entriesSample sentences
47 total sentences available.
Try as you might, but you cannot force a belief onto someone else, much less your own self.
Source: tatoeba (2262)
You are not less pretty than her.
Source: tatoeba (14806)
You must be less impatient.
Source: tatoeba (16397)
Showing 4 of 47 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "less"?
Closest matches include abated, ablated, at a disadvantage, at the nadir, attenuated.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "less"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.