lessen

USAGE SUMMARY

"lessen" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It can be used as a transitive verb to describe a decrease or reduction in size, number, intensity, extent, etc. Example sentence: The teacher's patience was beginning to lessen as the students grew more unruly.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But it might lessen the seismic nature of grief and fear a little, for both young children and adults, if we grew up with the idea of death as both inevitable and essential, instead of keeping it at arm's length.

The Guardian - Books

Verdict: Professor Lorna Casselton from the Royal Society says: "SCD has a severe toll on Africa, and high-quality research to lessen the burden is much needed.

The Guardian

Germany's insistence on fiscal rigour in return for EU bailout funds had made matters worse in countries crying out for a bit of growth to lessen the pain, many readers opined.

The Guardian

In most cases there is something that you can focus on to lessen the sadness – some relief of a particular symptom has been managed, the child is marginally better than when they arrived.

The Guardian

Surely this can only assist the child and lessen the burdens.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Nothing we can say or do will lessen the pain felt by Olivia and Charlotte's families but I have promised them that we are committed to making our railway as safe as possible.

The Guardian - Business

Nor do any of them mention IR35 - the tax rules which affect many computer contractors who lessen their tax payments by assigning themselves as the employees of a company they own.

The Guardian - Tech

Boff has also suggested the establishment of "Canadian-style safe houses" and "citizen patrols" to lessen youth violence and anti-social street behaviour.

The Guardian

More importantly, it shows that the years in which one of the most important voices in pop culture was virtually silent have done nothing to lessen the impact of his words.

The Guardian - Music

"It is in my power to lessen their sentence – it's not excluded that that will happen".

The Guardian - Music

For the target, there might be no space to help clarify, lessen, correct, or even apologise over the roar of reaction; for the aggressors, the target might be the wrong target of outrage, the information could be spotty, non-existent, wrong, and so on.

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "lessen" when you want to describe a reduction in intensity, degree, or amount, often in a gradual or subtle way. For example, "Exercise can help lessen the effects of stress."

Common error

Avoid using "lessen" with countable nouns when "reduce the number of" is more appropriate. Instead of saying "lessen the apples", say "reduce the number of apples".

Linguistic Context

The verb "lessen" functions primarily to indicate a reduction in quantity, intensity, or degree. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage across a wide range of contexts, indicating its versatility in expressing diminishment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

36%

Formal & Business

32%

Science

32%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lessen" is a versatile verb used to describe the act of making something smaller, weaker, or less intense. Ludwig AI confirms that the word is grammatically correct and usable in written English. It is frequently found in news articles, business reports, and scientific publications. When considering alternative phrases, "reduce", "diminish", and "alleviate" can be used depending on the specific context. Avoid using "lessen" with countable nouns. It's important to note, that the word is used both in formal and informal contexts.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduce

Emphasizes a decrease in quantity or size. More direct than "lessen".

diminish

Implies a gradual decrease. Slightly more formal than "lessen".

decrease

Refers to a reduction in number, size, or degree. Very similar to "lessen" in many contexts.

alleviate

Suggests making something (like pain or suffering) more bearable. Focuses on relief.

mitigate

Implies making something less severe or serious, often used in formal or technical contexts.

reduce the impact of

Focuses specifically on minimizing the effect of something, emphasizing the consequence.

soften

Suggests making something less harsh or severe, often used metaphorically.

weaken

Implies reducing the strength or power of something.

ease

Indicates a reduction in pressure or tension, often used for discomfort or difficulty.

lighten

Suggests making something less heavy or burdensome, often in a figurative sense.

FAQs

How can I use "lessen" in a sentence?

"Lessen" can be used to describe making something smaller or less intense. For example, "Efforts to "lessen" the environmental impact of factories are crucial.".

What can I say instead of "lessen"?

You can use alternatives like "reduce", "diminish", or "alleviate" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "lessen the impact" or "reduce the impact"?

Both "lessen the impact" and "reduce the impact" are correct and often interchangeable. However, "lessen the impact" might imply a more gradual or subtle reduction.

What's the difference between "lessen" and "mitigate"?

"Lessen" generally means to make something smaller or less, while "mitigate" specifically means to make something less severe, serious, or painful. "Mitigate" often refers to reducing the negative effects of something.