cannot be lessened

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "cannot be lessened" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when discussing something that cannot be reduced or diminished in intensity, quantity, or quality. Example: "The impact of climate change on our planet cannot be lessened without immediate action."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

It is the belief that somehow one's cause is so noble that it cannot be lessened by wrong actions, absolving one of the need to self-reflect about their behavior.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

57 human-written examples

"Fortunately our society has started to understand that there can be mental suffering that is unbearable, and cannot in any way be lessened," she wrote.

The New Yorker

Hazards cannot be avoided, however their disastrous pursuits can be lessened through pro-active uses of a variety of planning measures, infrastructure and risk transfer mechanism.

Geoenvironmental Disasters

Although gout cannot be cure the severity of its periodic attacks can be lessened and their duration greatly shortened by treatment involving the use of a drug called colchicum, which is obtained from meadow saffron, or Colchicum autunmale.

The New Yorker

That risk can be lessened by surveillance.

The Economist

How can this problem be lessened?

The Guardian

Sonic boom may be lessened but probably not eliminated.

The New Yorker

The irksome burden of commuting might be lessened considerably.

The New York Times

The toxic effects would also be lessened by the coating.

Nanoscale Res Lett

The formation of such dimers can be lessened by increasing the temperature from 30 °C to 100 °C.

Polymer

However, this large-scale shear motion may be lessened if buckling occurs.

Polymer

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "cannot be lessened" to emphasize the absolute impossibility of reducing something, whether it's an impact, effect, or feeling.

Common error

Avoid using "cannot be lessened" when describing issues that are, in fact, partially or fully curable. Reserve the phrase for situations where reduction is truly impossible, to maintain accuracy and avoid overstatement.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "cannot be lessened" functions as a modal verb phrase expressing impossibility. It is used to indicate that something is incapable of being reduced in intensity, degree, or amount. As Ludwig AI confirms, this phrase is grammatically sound and effectively conveys its intended meaning.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

30%

Science

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

10%

Academia

15%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "cannot be lessened" is a grammatically correct phrase used to express the impossibility of reducing something. As Ludwig AI confirms, while not exceedingly common, it is suitable for use in formal and neutral contexts, particularly in news, scientific, and formal business settings. The phrase emphasizes the unchangeable nature of a situation, and its meaning is similar to alternatives such as ""cannot be reduced"" and ""cannot be diminished"". However, you should avoid using it in situations where reduction or alleviation is actually possible.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

cannot be diminished

Replaces "lessened" with "diminished", emphasizing a reduction in importance or quality rather than quantity.

cannot be reduced

Uses the more common term "reduced" for a general decrease in size, amount, or degree.

cannot be alleviated

Shifts the focus to relieving or making something more bearable, often used in the context of suffering or pain.

cannot be mitigated

Emphasizes the idea of lessening the severity or impact of something negative.

cannot be minimized

Focuses on reducing something to the smallest possible amount or degree.

cannot be decreased

Similar to "reduced", but may imply a more gradual or incremental reduction.

cannot be curtailed

Suggests restricting or limiting something, often used in the context of freedom or rights.

cannot be abated

Implies a lessening of intensity or strength, often used for negative things like storms or pain.

cannot be weakened

Focuses on reducing the strength or power of something.

cannot be softened

Suggests making something less harsh or severe.

FAQs

How can I use "cannot be lessened" in a sentence?

You can use "cannot be lessened" to emphasize that something is impossible to reduce. For example: "The environmental damage caused by the oil spill "cannot be lessened" without significant intervention".

What are some alternatives to "cannot be lessened"?

Alternatives include "cannot be reduced", "cannot be diminished", or "cannot be alleviated". The best choice depends on the specific context.

Is it more formal to say "cannot be lessened" or "cannot be reduced"?

"Cannot be lessened" and "cannot be reduced" are generally interchangeable in terms of formality, but "lessened" might be perceived as slightly more formal or literary than "reduced".

Can "cannot be lessened" be used for both physical and abstract concepts?

Yes, "cannot be lessened" can apply to both. You can say "The pain "cannot be lessened" with over-the-counter medication" (physical) or "The importance of education "cannot be lessened"" (abstract).