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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 lessening

Now 72, she says she has been graced with great genes and is experiencing no lessening in her energy.

Nancy Pelosi’s Tireless Obamacare Push Vindicated by Supreme Court Ruling |Eleanor Clift |July 4, 2012 |DAILY BEAST
While job losses per month may be lessening, there is a stunning dearth of new job creation.

How to Get America Back to Work |Elaine Chao |January 10, 2010 |DAILY BEAST
The remedy does not consist in the lessening or weakening of sovereignty by individual states.

Under Four Administrations |Oscar S. Straus
In fact, there were indications that the fall of snow was lessening.

Tom Fairfield's Hunting Trip |Allen Chapman

Using two or more cylinders conduces to steady power generation and a lessening of vibration.

Aviation Engines |Victor Wilfred Pag
To what extent is the success of stained glass windows due to a lessening of this handicap?

Visual Illusions |Matthew Luckiesh
Refinement instead of lessening the tendency to sexual indulgence rather increases it.

Psychotherapy |James J. Walsh

British Dictionary definitions for lessening

lessen

/ (ˈlɛsən) /

verb

to make or become less

(tr) to make little of