What does "diminished" mean?

1. (reduced or weakened) made smaller, weaker, or less in amount. 2. (less important) made to seem less important or valuable than before. 3. (musical interval) describes a musical note or chord that has been lowered by a small step.

diminished

adj.

US //dɪˈmɪnɪʃt// UK //dɪmˈɪnɪʃt// di·min·ished

1 reduced or weakened (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

made smaller, weaker, or less in amount.

reduced in size, degree, or intensity; having undergone a process of decrease.

Example

After the long drought, the farmers had to survive on a diminished supply of water.

Example

The company faced significant challenges operating with a diminished workforce following the sudden round of budget cuts.
- increased
- enhanced
2 less important (adj.)
C1 Advanced Formal

made to seem less important or valuable than before.

characterised by a loss of status, reputation, or perceived value.

Example

He felt like a diminished figure in the company after his project failed.

Example

The former minister lived out his final years as a diminished presence in public life, rarely consulted by his successors.
- belittled
- devalued
- exalted
- respected

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3 musical interval (adj.)
C2 Proficiency Technical Music

describes a musical note or chord that has been lowered by a small step.

denoting an interval that is a semitone smaller than a perfect or minor interval.

Example

The composer used a diminished chord to create a feeling of tension in the film scene.

Example

The transition relies on a series of diminished sevenths to build harmonic instability before finally resolving to the tonic.
- augmented