lessen

verb

less·​en ˈle-sᵊn How to pronounce lessen (audio)
lessened; lessening ˈle-sᵊn-iŋ How to pronounce lessen (audio)
ˈles-niŋ
Synonyms of lessennext

intransitive verb

: to shrink in size, number, or degree : decrease
The pain will lessen over time.

transitive verb

1
: to reduce in size, extent, or degree
lessen tensions between nations
2
a
archaic : to represent as of little value
b
: to lower in status or dignity : degrade

Synonyms of lessen

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decrease, lessen, diminish, reduce, abate, dwindle mean to grow or make less.

decrease suggests a progressive decline in size, amount, numbers, or intensity.

slowly decreased the amount of pressure

lessen suggests a decline in amount rather than in number.

has been unable to lessen her debt

diminish emphasizes a perceptible loss and implies its subtraction from a total.

his visual acuity has diminished

reduce implies a bringing down or lowering.

you must reduce your caloric intake

abate implies a reducing of something excessive or oppressive in force or amount.

the storm abated

dwindle implies progressive lessening and is applied to things growing visibly smaller.

their provisions dwindled slowly

Examples of lessen in a Sentence

Medication helps lessen the severity of the symptoms. we lessened our efforts as it became clear they weren't having an effect
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
McKinney has focused his campaign on lessening the city’s homelessness crisis by leveraging people into treatment, tackling quality-of-life crimes, and reducing the city’s out-of-control legal costs. — James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 23 Oct. 2026 Research has shown that the therapeutic use of horseback riding can improve balance and coordination in people who have neurological conditions like cerebral palsy, and lessen the symptoms for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. — Ondine Cohane, New York Times, 23 Oct. 2026 There was little understanding of how contagion might spread, but the civic leaders intuited that physical distancing measures could lessen its effect. — Literary Hub, 20 Oct. 2026 Employees will lessen amount in cold hold and mark it for four-hour disposal. — Nwa Democrat-Gazette, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lessen

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of lessen was in the 14th century

Rhymes for lessen

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Browse Nearby Words

lessee
lessen
Lesseps
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Cite this Entry

“Lessen.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lessen. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

lessen

verb
less·​en ˈles-ᵊn How to pronounce lessen (audio)
lessened; lessening ˈles-niŋ How to pronounce lessen (audio)
-ᵊn-iŋ
: to make or become less
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