You may choose to scold this child, but theres no need to reduce him to tears. ( , )
to decrease to (cause to) become less, to diminish or cause to diminish in size, number, strength, etc. ((), , , / , , ; , ), normally retains, even in the transitive, an implication of the process of growing less, and suggests progressive decline
forces that decrease the population
his temperature decreases
his fears decreased as dawn approached
the rise of the public high school... decreased the number and lessened the importance of the academies
a gradual/sharp/steady decrease in demand, on the decrease, to decrease expenditures
to decrease from to ...
to decrease by ...
to decrease in smth. (-.)
Over the same period the percentage has decreased from 27 per cent to 9 per cent. .
The price has decreased by 15 %. .
Between 1920 and 1953 the average hours of work decreased by ten: from fifty to forty hours. 1920 1953 : .
The roar decreased in volume. и .
Our share of the market has decreased sharply this year.
We have decreased our involvement in children's books.
to lessen 1) to make or become less 2) to make little of (1) () 2) , / 1) ) , ) , 2) ; , ), is a close synonym of decrease but the latter is to be preferred in contexts employing specific numbers; thus, it is idiomatic to say that a fever has lessened or that it has decreased from 101 to 99
I hoped to obtain your forgiveness, to lessen your ill opinion.
to lessen the hours of work
If something lessens or is lessened, it becomes less strong.
The rain eventually lessened to a soft mist.
Eating properly can lessen the risk of heart disease.
lessen fertility
lessen punishment/policy ( )/rank ( )/speed/services ( )/tensions ( )
to diminish to reduce or be reduced in size or importance, is a more precise word when the ideas of taking away or subtraction by an agent and of resultant perceptible loss are to be emphasized (, , , , / , (), , ( -.), , ; )
their funds were greatly diminished by their extravagance
his sense of personal initiative is cultivated instead of being diminished
There is nothing you can say that will diminish her resolve.
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I don't want to diminish her achievements, but she did have a lot of help.
The memory of them will not be diminished by time.
What he did has seriously diminished him in many people's eyes.
He says that in his opinion the influence of the church has been slowly diminishing for many years.
We have seen the value of our house diminish greatly/sharply/substantially in value over the last six months.
(legal) If someone is in a state of diminished responsibility /(US) diminished capacity, it means that something, esp. their mental state, has caused them not to be in full control of their actions.
Because the accused had been under great stress at the time of the crime, he pleaded not guilty on grounds of diminished responsibility.
The law of diminishing returns refers to a situation in which a smaller result is achieved for an increasing amount of effort.
To diminish influence/pressure/suspicions/danger/importance/achevements
to abate to become less strong differs from diminish and reduce in its presupposition of something excessivein force, intensity, or amount and in its strong implicationof moderation or, especially when referred to taxes orimposts, of deduction (1) () 2) ; 3) 4) , , 5) , ; )
physically weakened by a stomach disorder that will not abate
The storm/wind/rain has started to abate slightly.
The nurses' concern about cuts in funding for hospitals has not abated.
The fighting in the area shows no sign of abating.
to abate a tax ( ), costs, from (of) the price
the storm has abated
abate the pain
abate noise
abate pride
to abate a writ
to dwindle to become less in number or smaller, like decrease, implies progressive lessening, but is more oftenapplied to things capable of growing visibly smaller. Itspecifically connotes approach to a vanishing point (, ( to); ; ; , / 1) , , , 2) ; , ; 3) , ())
hull downhull down and undershe dwindles to a speck
to dwindle to nothing /
The community has dwindled to a tenth of its former size in the last two years.
Her hopes of success in the race dwindled last night as the weather became worse.
To dwindle away/in unbelief; dwindling supplies/resources/money/reserves/interest/attendance
