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lessen

[ les-uh n ]

/ ˈlɛs ən /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR lessen ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object)

to become less.

verb (used with object)

to make less; reduce.

Archaic. to represent as less; depreciate; disparage.

Origin of lessen

1300–50; late Middle English lessenen, lasnen (see less, -en¹); replacing Middle English lessen

OTHER WORDS FROM lessen

un·less·ened, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH lessen

lessen lesson

Words nearby lessen

lespedeza, lesquerella, less, less than, lessee, lessen, lesseps, lesser, lesser antilles, lesser ape, lesser bear

Example sentences from the Web for lessen

Cooperating with Assad is also the only feasible way, at present, to lessen the humanitarian nightmare in Syria.

There’s Only One Way to Beat ISIS: Work With Assad and Iran |Leslie H. Gelb |October 18, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
We ask that you lessen her pain and therefore lessen the pain of all humanity.

Hallucinating Away a Heroin Addiction |Abby Haglage |May 4, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Each 6000kg sculpture is lowered to the seabed where it is drilled into the substrate to lessen the effects of turbulent weather.

Artist Jason deCaires Taylor’s Underwater Sculptures Are a Sight to Sea |Justin Jones |April 7, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
But getting cyclists to don a hard-shelled helmet, which can lessen the risks of serious injury, has been a global challenge.

Helmet Haute Couture: The Invisible Helmet Revolutionizing Bike Safety |Nina Strochlic |December 19, 2013 |DAILY BEAST

The company hopes the change will lessen the weight load for not only the pilots, but the planes.

Airline Pilots Ditch Charts and Paperwork for iPads to Save Money and Fuel |Miranda Green |June 28, 2013 |DAILY BEAST
The little one staggers under it, leaning far forward to lessen the direct traction over her forehead.

The Child in the Midst |Mary Schauffler Labaree
The intercostal, and a part of the abdominal, muscles depress the ribs and lessen the chest cavity anteriorly and laterally.

Resonance in Singing and Speaking |Thomas Fillebrown
The failure of my act will lessen the moral effect, and diminish its propagandistic value.

Prison Memoirs of an Anarchist |Alexander Berkman
And they could not speak of their griefs one to another, and so lessen them in ever so slight a degree.

Trevlyn Hold |Mrs. Henry Wood
Mr. Conne's rather whimsical attitude toward this conference did not lessen his pride.

Tom Slade Motorcycle Dispatch Bearer |Percy Keese Fitzhugh

British Dictionary definitions for lessen

lessen

/ (ˈlɛsən) /

verb

to make or become less

(tr) to make little of