to reduce

Examples

• All

• The potential utility of many existing collections is reduced by a lack of data on treatment history.

  Academic text (2011)

• How dare you reduce me to a stereotype?

  The Late Late Show with James Corden

• Is this what we're reduced to, considering the least worst option?

  Conclave (2024)

• For ages, we human beings have been creating tools to reduce the strain of travel.

• We don't, but it certainly will reduce that risk.

• Our relationship has been reduced to text-messaging.

  Pulse (2006)

• A world that had seemed infinite was reduced overnight to human proportions.

  Academic text (2011)

• By mid-1996, al Qaeda was a shell of an organization, reduced to some 30 members.

  Academic text (2011)

• To a large extent, new technology could even reduce Egypt's insecurity over water availability.

  Academic text (2008)

• The new policy aims to reduce pollution levels in the city to improve air quality.

Synonyms

L

to lower

vsto reduce

408 1.0

Make something go down in position, amount, or strength

is focused on bringing down status or making submissive rather than general decrease

K

to keep down

vsto reduce

300 3.6

To stop people or groups from becoming stronger

is more about lowering rank or submission rather than preventing growth

W

to weaken

vsto reduce

213 2.8

To make people and things less strong or effective

is more specific about lowering rank or creating submissive state rather than general weakening

S

to shrink

vsto reduce

159 2.8

Become less in amount or value

is more about lowering status or forcing submission rather than mere decrease

D

to diminish

vsto reduce

147 3.7

To become less in size, importance, or value

is more about lowering status or submission rather than general reduction

C

to cut down

vsto reduce

145 2.7

To make something smaller in amount or number

focuses on cutting quantity not on lowering someone's rank or power

B

to bring down

vsto reduce

123 3.0

Make an amount or level lower

is about lowering status or making submissive rather than only reducing measures

L

to lessen

vsto reduce

72 2.8

To make something smaller in amount or strength

is more about lowering social or power position rather than simple decrease

T

to tone down

vsto reduce

56 3.7

To make something less strong, for example a sound, color or feeling

focuses on softening expression not on lowering rank or making submissive

S

to subdue

vsto reduce

54 5.5

To bring a person or thing under control, often by force

is more general meaning to lower rank or make submissive

D

to downgrade

vsto reduce

53 4.9

To make something lower in rank, value or importance

is about lowering condition or power more generally not only rank change

D

to downsize

vsto reduce

32 4.1

Make something smaller, like a product or living space

relates to size reduction rather than lowering rank or creating submission

R

to relegate

vsto reduce

28 6.8

Move someone to a lower job or position as punishment

is broader applying to lowering condition or power not only demotion

A

to abate

vsto reduce

22 6.8

To become less strong or severe and to make something do the same

focuses on easing intensity rather than lowering rank or forcing submission

S

to subjugate

vsto reduce

• Formal

17 9.2

To bring someone or something under control, often by force

is about lowering status or strength without necessarily using force

S

to scale down

vsto reduce

17 4.0

To make something smaller in size or amount

focuses on proportional size change not on lowering rank or making submissive

D

to depress

vsto reduce

17 4.8

To make prices, levels, or activity fall

applies to falling measures rather than lowering social rank or creating submission

W

to whittle down

vsto reduce

16 5.1

To make a list or group smaller by removing items over time

describes slow removal to shrink something rather than enforcing submission

R

to repress

vsto reduce

15 6.7

Use force to stop protests or opposition

is broader focusing on making status or power lower generally rather than suppression

P

to pare down

vsto reduce

13 4.4

Make something smaller by removing parts you do not need

is about forcing lower status or submissiveness rather than trimming excess

E

to emasculate

vsto reduce

10 8.8

To make something weaker or less effective

focuses on loss of strength rather than lowering rank or making submissive

A

to abridge

vsto reduce

• Formal

7 6.5

Reduce people's rights or freedoms

targets cutting rights or privileges rather than directly making someone submissive

W

to whittle away

vsto reduce

5 5.9

To make something smaller gradually by cutting or wearing it away

focuses on gradual loss over time rather than lowering rank or control

S

to step down

vsto reduce

3 4.3

Reduce something to a lower level, for example power or voltage

is about lowering status or making submissive rather than mere decrease

R

to remit

vsto reduce

• Specialized

2 7.3

To become less strong or less tight

stresses easing severity rather than pushing into a lower submissive state

M

to modify

vsto reduce

2 3.5

Make something less strong or harsh

is about reducing rank or making subordinate rather than simply moderating intensity

M

to minify

vsto reduce

1 8.4

To make something smaller so it uses less space or time

is concerned with lowering rank or making submissive not just size change

Antonyms

E

to empower

173 4.2

Give someone the power and confidence to do something

E

to elevate

122 3.9

To move something to a higher place or level

Phrasal Verbs

R

to reduce swelling

4 3.4

Make a swollen area of the body smaller

How Submissive

to subjugate

• Formal

17 9.2

to humiliate

• Offensive

208 6.1

to degrade

29 5.1

to reduce

116 2.1

to diminish

53 4.7

to lower

408 1.0

Surface Forms

Morphology

Etymology