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diminishment

diminishment

4 6.7
A decrease in size, strength or importance
  • noun
  • /dɪˈmɪnɪʃmənt/
translation icon : diminución
  • The sudden diminishment of the forest area has raised environmental concerns.
  • diminishment of the sense

loss of healthy body, diminishment of physical health,

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Examples

  • The team noticed a significant diminishment in morale after the loss.

  • Many artists faced a diminishment in their popularity during the pandemic.

  • But to come to this space and life of aging and diminishment, even though it's lovely and wonderful and OK, it's scary sometimes.

  • Emotional abuse is not just a single event, but a systematic diminishment of the victim.

    Academic text (2000)
  • Part of the narrowing, the diminishment of the possible in America in the past 40 years, I suppose.

    Blog text (5)
  • We all thought she'd protest; instead, and this may be a measure of her diminishment, she merely expressed surprise.

    Blog text (3)
  • Second would be the diminishment of incentives when government "spreads the wealth around."

    Blog text (1)
  • A second important concern among the Bemazava has been the diminishment of royal power accompanying French occupation.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Miller never stopped regretting the loss of that relatively diverse audience and the resulting diminishment of American theater's reach.

    Academic text (2005)
  • Although children have traditionally been our hope for the future, we are seeing the gradual diminishment, and in some cases destruction, of institutions and organizations that care for our children.

    Academic text (2010)

Synonyms

reduction
vsdiminishment
451 3.2

A decrease in size, amount, degree, or price

occurs as a change without implying direct action to cause it
loss
vsdiminishment
247 1.3

A gradual reduction in amount or size

often refers to the result of reduction rather than the ongoing process
decrease
vsdiminishment
84 2.2

A drop in amount or number

refers to the change process rather than a single measured amount
depletion
vsdiminishment
40 5.3

A decrease in how much of something is left, often until it is used up

is more general and includes weakening or loss of importance
degradation
vsdiminishment
33 6.8

The process of making land, water, or buildings worse over time

is broader, applying to loss in size, strength, or importance without moral judgment
shrinking
vsdiminishment
7 3.2

A decrease in size, amount, or value

also covers becoming weaker or less important, not only physical smallness
wane
vsdiminishment
6 6.6

A slow decrease in size, strength, or number

is broader, including both slow and faster decreases
shrinkage
vsdiminishment
5 5.1

A decrease in size, amount, or value

focuses on the ongoing change and weakening rather than just the result
diminution
vsdiminishment
5 7.9

A decrease in size, amount, or importance

happens as a process of becoming smaller or weaker without naming a cause
lessening
vsdiminishment
4 3.8

A decrease in amount, size, or strength

also covers loss of importance or strength beyond simple quantity change
debasement
vsdiminishment
3 7.5

Making a person or thing less respected and less valued

is the general process of becoming smaller or weaker without implying loss of worth
step-down
vsdiminishment
3 4.6

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

is broader, covering gradual or natural declines not only deliberate acts
devolution
vsdiminishment
1 8.3

A slow decline from a higher to a lower state in quality or power

is a general change without implying it fell from a higher state
decrement
vsdiminishment
  • Specialized
1 7.7

A small reduction in an amount or number

is about the general process of becoming smaller or less over time
dwindling
vsdiminishment
1 5.2

A slow decrease in size, number, or strength

is the general process but not limited to gradual change
downslide
vsdiminishment
1 5.1

A period when something gets worse

focuses on reduction in size, strength, or importance rather than general worsening
waning
vsdiminishment
1 6.0

A gradual decrease in size or strength

applies more widely to becoming smaller, weaker, or less important
minification
vsdiminishment
7.4

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

is broader, including loss of strength or importance as well
weakening
vsdiminishment
3.2

A process that makes a person or thing less strong

also covers reduction in size or importance, not only loss of strength
lowering
vsdiminishment
2.8

To make something less in amount, value, or level

describes the passive process of becoming smaller or weaker

Antonyms

1.6

An increase in size, number, or importance of something

241 3.3

An increase in size, amount, or range

81 4.2

A change that makes something better, more useful, or more attractive

How Much

collapse
350 4.1
diminishment
4 6.7
reduction
451 3.2
decline
439 3.9

Surface Forms

diminishment singular
diminishments plural

Morphology

diminishment = diminish (transparent) = diminish + ment

A straightforward nominalization of the verb 'diminish' with the productive suffix '-ment', yielding 'the act or process of diminishing'.

Etymology

Diminishment comes from Latin parts de- ('down') and minuere ('make small'), the same root behind words like minimum and minute. So, a diminishment is the 'making smaller' or loss of size, strength, or importance.