diminish
/dɪˈmɪnɪʃ/
Reviewed on
Type
Verb
Meaning
To become or make something smaller in size, amount, or intensity.
The pain in her shoulder began to diminish after physical therapy.
Did the heavy rainfall diminish the severe drought conditions across the county?
To reduce the reputation, importance, or value of someone or something.
Critics tried to diminish her achievements during the debate.
A minor bookkeeping error does not diminish the overall success of the project.
How it's used
When this means “become smaller”
- diminish over time
His influence began to diminish over time.
When this means “reduce something”
- diminish the risk
“diminish it.”
New safety measures diminish the risk of accidents.
Collocations
- diminish the importance
- diminish the value
- diminish rapidly
- diminishing returns
Idioms
law of diminishing returns
a principle where additional efforts yield progressively smaller profits or benefits
Adding more staff reached the law of diminishing returns after two months.