diminish

C2 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /dɪˈmɪnɪʃ/ See IPA manual

Freq #22494

Meanings

1

verb
To become smaller, weaker, or less; or to make something smaller or less.

As the years passed, her interest in the subject gradually diminished.
2

verb
To make someone or something seem less important or valuable.

I don't want to diminish the work he did, but the team deserves credit too.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to become smaller, weaker,... fall

More abase abate belittlebesmallcut decline decrease decrement ebbembaseforeshorten lessen

Opposites

augment improve renovate repair wax

Word family

Forms diminisheddiminishesdiminishingdiminishinglyundiminished

Derived forms diminishablediminisherdiminishmentrediminish

Related forms diminution

Simplified etymology

Diminish arose in medieval English as a blend of the obsolete verbs diminue and minish, both meaning “lessen.” Both ultimately derive from Latin minutus “small,” also the source of minute in that sense.

Etymology

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

diminuer Old French dīminuo Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# diminish

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /dɪˈmɪnɪʃ/
**Frequency rank:** 22494

## Meanings
1. To become smaller, weaker, or less; or to make something smaller or less.
2. To make someone or something seem less important or valuable.

## Examples
- As the years passed, her interest in the subject gradually diminished.
- I don't want to diminish the work he did, but the team deserves credit too.

## Synonyms
- abase
- abate
- belittle
- besmall
- cut
- decline
- decrease
- decrement
- ebb
- embase
- foreshorten
- lessen

## Antonyms
- augment
- improve
- renovate
- repair
- wax

## Derived Forms
- diminishable
- diminisher
- diminishment
- rediminish

## Related Forms
- diminution

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: diminuer
- Root: dīminuo

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

## AI Etymology
Diminish is formed under the influence of both diminue (from Old French diminuer, from Latin dīminuo) and minish. Important recorded forms include diminuer (Old French) and dīminuo (Latin). Current senses include to become smaller, weaker, or less; or to make something smaller or less and to make someone or something seem less important or valuable. The wider family includes derived forms such as diminishable, diminisher, diminishment, and rediminish; related words such as diminution.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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