DIMINISH

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does diminish mean? 

• DIMINISH (verb)
  The verb DIMINISH has 2 senses:

1. decrease in size, extent, or range

2. lessen the authority, dignity, or reputation of

  Familiarity information: DIMINISH used as a verb is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DIMINISH (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they diminish    ... he / she / it diminishes   
Past simple: diminished   
Past participle: diminished   
-ing form: diminishing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Decrease in size, extent, or range

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

decrease; diminish; fall; lessen

Context example:

his voice fell to a whisper

Hypernyms (to "diminish" is one way to...):

change magnitude (change in size or magnitude)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "diminish"):

deflate (become deflated or flaccid, as by losing air)

decrescendo (grow quieter)

decelerate; retard; slow; slow down; slow up (lose velocity; move more slowly)

wane (become smaller)

wane (decrease in phase)

decline; go down; wane (grow smaller)

thin out (become sparser)

shorten (become short or shorter)

depreciate; devaluate; devalue; undervalue (lose in value)

de-escalate (diminish in size, scope, or intensity)

remit (diminish or abate)

dwindle; dwindle away; dwindle down (become smaller or lose substance)

break (diminish or discontinue abruptly)

abate; die away; let up; slack; slack off (become less in amount or intensity)

shrink; shrivel; shrivel up; wither (wither, as with a loss of moisture)

contract; shrink (become smaller or draw together)

boil down; concentrate; decoct; reduce (be cooked until very little liquid is left)

weaken (become weaker)

ease off; ease up; flag; slacken off (become less intense)

break (fall sharply)

fly; vanish; vaporize (decrease rapidly and disappear)

drop off (fall or diminish)

taper (diminish gradually)

shrink; shrivel (decrease in size, range, or extent)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

diminution (change toward something smaller or lower)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Lessen the authority, dignity, or reputation of

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

belittle; diminish

Context example:

don't belittle your colleagues

Hypernyms (to "diminish" is one way to...):

decrease; lessen; minify (make smaller)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

 Context examples 

Hypochromic anemia may be caused by iron deficiency from a low iron intake, diminished iron absorption, or excessive iron loss.

(Hypochromic Anemia, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

A term that refers to the presence of diminished numbers of cytoplasmic granules in myeloid cells.

(Hypogranularity, NCI Thesaurus)

An increase in global UV with the diminishing of the ozone layer

(Global Change/UV, NCI Thesaurus)

The most recent Martian global dust storm occurred in 2007, significantly diminishing solar power available to two NASA Mars rovers then active halfway around the planet from each other — Spirit and Opportunity.

(Study Predicts Next Global Dust Storm on Mars, NASA)

Fosinoprilat specifically and competitively inhibits angiotensin-converting enzyme thereby decreasing the formation of the potent vasoconstrictor angiotensin II, resulting in diminished vasopressor activity.

(Fosinopril, NCI Thesaurus)

Perhaps, then, it would be better for all parties, if the sum were diminished one half.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

New studies show that salty food diminishes thirst while increasing hunger, due to a higher need for energy.

(Salty Diet Makes You Hungry, Not Thirsty, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Less nitrogen available in the warmer surface water diminished phytoplankton growth, while giant kelp growth was steady, thanks to urea as a nutrient source.

(Giant kelp switches diet when key nutrient becomes scarce, National Science Foundation)

A condition of decreased tone of the skeletal muscles and diminished resistance to passive stretching.

(Hypotonia, NCI Thesaurus)

These clays also diminish populations of bacterial biofilms, as well as bacteria common in wounds that are more resistant to drugs.

(Clay fights MRSA, other 'superbugs' in wounds, National Science Foundation)