ENGLISH
REFERENCE

diminish

v.
C1 Advanced Oxford US //dɪˈmɪnɪʃ// UK //dɪmˈɪnɪʃ// di·min·ish Academic

v. to become smaller, weaker, or less important. You can also use it when you make someone else's achievements seem less impressive than they really are.

v. to make or become less; to reduce in size, importance, or intensity. Often used transitively to describe the act of belittling or disparaging a person's reputation or accomplishments.


SIMPLE

The noise began to diminish as the train moved away.

CONTEXTUAL

The company's profits continue to diminish as more competitors enter the local market with lower prices.

COMPLEX

While the physical symptoms of the illness may diminish over time, the psychological impact often requires a more sustained and structured approach to recovery.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

Formed under the influence of both diminue (from Old French diminuer, from Latin dīminuo) and minish.

Usage

The verb can be used both transitively and intransitively.

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