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lessening

lessening

4 3.8
A decrease in amount, size, or strength
  • noun
  • /ˈlɛsənɪŋ/
translation icon : reducción
  • There has been a noticeable lessening of pollution levels in the river since the new regulations were introduced.
  • the lessening of competition
  • the lessening of tension
  • substantial lessening

Examples

  • In a project requiring the complete backing of all those involved, any lessening of commitment will affect the final program.

    Academic text (1991)
  • What you saw was more and more content fewer and fewer limits on that content, and a lessening of standards.

  • Nothing had changed beyond the lessening of the pain.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • Another factor that has changed the context of human resources development is the lessening of the role of the unions.

    Academic text (1996)
  • Pleasure can come about from a removal or a lessening or a privation of pain.

  • For a moment, Egwene felt a lessening of tension.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • The world has witnessed a lessening of tension in several troubled theaters in the recent past.

    Academic text (1995)
  • I gather there seems to be no lessening of the intensity of argumentation in this country.

  • Since 1985, all indicators show a lessening of superpower activity in the third world.

    Academic text (1990)
  • The end of the Korean War in 1953 also led to a lessening of anxieties about subversion.

    Blog text (31)

Synonyms

reduction
vslessening
451 3.2

A decrease in size, amount, degree, or price

highlights the ongoing change toward smaller amount or lower degree
decrease
vslessening
84 2.2

A drop in amount or number

emphasizes the process of becoming smaller rather than the single amount
contraction
vslessening
34 4.4

A process of becoming smaller in size or amount

applies more widely to any reduction in amount, degree, or size
drop-off
vslessening
10 3.9

A sudden decrease in amount, quality or rate

covers both sudden drops and slower decreases as a general change
narrowing
vslessening
8 4.1

Becoming thinner or more limited in range

refers more generally to any reduction in amount, degree, or intensity
shrinking
vslessening
7 3.2

A decrease in size, amount, or value

stresses the act or movement toward a smaller amount or intensity
shrinkage
vslessening
5 5.1

A decrease in size, amount, or value

focuses on the unfolding process of becoming smaller rather than the result
minimization
vslessening
5 5.5

The act of making something as small as possible

describes ordinary decrease without aiming for the absolute smallest level
diminution
vslessening
5 7.9

A decrease in size, amount, or importance

is the broader act of a process that causes things to become less
diminishment
vslessening
4 6.7

A decrease in size, strength or importance

focuses on general process of becoming less in amount or intensity
step-down
vslessening
3 4.6

A decrease in amount or level, for example moving to a lower job

is the broad process of becoming smaller without focusing on single acts
cutdown
vslessening
2 4.0

A drop in the number or amount of something

covers gradual or general decreases as a process rather than one cut
dwindling
vslessening
1 5.2

A slow decrease in size, number, or strength

includes both sudden and gradual reductions across different situations
slackening
vslessening
1 5.6

A change when something becomes less tight, strong, or intense

focuses broadly on decreases in amount, degree, or intensity
decrement
vslessening
  • Specialized
1 7.7

A small reduction in an amount or number

is the ongoing change toward being less in amount or intensity
lowering
vslessening
2.8

To make something less in amount, value, or level

is the general process of becoming smaller without specifying an agent
tapering
vslessening
6.5

A slow reduction in size or amount done in stages

is the general process of becoming smaller without implying stages
weakening
vslessening
3.2

A process that makes a person or thing less strong

is about reduction in amount or intensity generally, not only strength
minification
vslessening
7.4

Making something smaller in size so it fits into a small space

applies to reduction in amount or intensity beyond physical size alone

Antonyms

1.6

An increase in size, number, or importance of something

241 3.3

An increase in size, amount, or range

How Much

elimination
77 3.5
reduction
451 3.2
lessening
4 3.8
decline
439 3.9

Surface Forms

lessening singular
lessenings plural

Morphology

lessening = lessen (transparent) = less + en + ing

Formed from 'less' -> 'lessen' -> 'lessening' via regular derivational suffixes '-en' and '-ing', so the meaning is predictable from the base.

Etymology

Lessening comes from the simple word less, meaning 'not as much', and the verb lessen, meaning 'to make smaller'. So a lessening is a reduction or the act of becoming 'smaller' in amount, degree, or strength.