lessen obstacles

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "lessen obstacles" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when discussing ways to reduce difficulties or barriers in a particular situation or process. Example: "The new policy aims to lessen obstacles for small businesses seeking loans."

✓ Grammatically correct

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

The Economist

The New York Times

Huffington Post

BMC Medical Education

WikiHow

BBC

Technology in Society

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Prevention programs and new government policies are also necessary to increase facilitators and lessen obstacles in the environment.

Health and Quality of Life Outcomes

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

They also have high levels of teenage pregnancy that help bump up the figures.Ms d'Addio says the very low fertility rates now seen in many OECD countries are not inevitable, and governments should try to lessen the obstacles to childbearing faced by individuals and families.

The Economist

Removing those obstacles, or lessening them, will spur growth.

The New York Times

It lessens their tolerance to obstacles, their willingness to take no for an answer".China has been good at suppressing that appetite, but it also has growing reasons to project power.

The Economist

As I indicated above, some of the sting of these four big obstacles is lessening over time.

Huffington Post

But if a willing start is made, then the great advantages of doing this will so quickly reveal themselves that the pain will be lessened as one obstacle after another melts away".

The New York Times

Paperwork was cited as a major hurdle, even though the limited number of regulatory obstacles in Japan would be expected to lessen paperwork demands.

BMC Medical Education

Always try to use obstacles, such as stalagmites, gates, etc to lessen or omit them hitting you.

WikiHow

Systems like Volvo's City Safety accident prevention system are further evolutions of this, able to sense obstacles and apply brake pressure to avoid or lessen the impact of collision.

BBC

By lessening tensions over water rights, improved desalting technologies could reduce the obstacles to peace.

Technology in Society

But movements to lessen the intensity of sports, whether at the highly competitive or theoretically recreational levels, face a mighty obstacle: parents.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When aiming to "lessen obstacles", consider the specific context to choose the most appropriate synonym for added precision. For example, in a legal setting, "easing restrictions" might be more fitting than "softening challenges".

Common error

Avoid substituting "lessen obstacles" with overly general phrases like "make things easier" without specifying how. Instead, clarify the actions taken to reduce specific barriers.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "lessen obstacles" functions as a verb phrase, where "lessen" acts as a verb indicating the action of reducing, and "obstacles" serves as the direct object, representing the things being reduced. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's a valid and usable expression.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

25%

Science

25%

Wiki

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Encyclopedias

7%

Academia

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "lessen obstacles" is a grammatically sound and versatile phrase used to describe the action of reducing difficulties or barriers. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is acceptable in written English. While synonyms like "reduce barriers" or "minimize challenges" offer nuanced alternatives, the core meaning remains consistent. Its frequency and usage across diverse sources, from news outlets to academic publications, underscore its relevance in contemporary communication. When writing, focus on specifying the actions taken to achieve this reduction for maximum impact. It is important to avoid being too generic.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduce barriers

Emphasizes the removal of impediments, often in a systematic context.

minimize challenges

Focuses on decreasing the scale of difficulties.

mitigate difficulties

Highlights alleviating the severity of problems.

alleviate impediments

Stresses providing relief from obstructions.

ease restrictions

Specifically targets relaxing limitations.

weaken barriers

Implies reducing the strength or impact of hindrances.

soften challenges

Suggests making difficulties less harsh or severe.

diminish hurdles

Emphasizes decreasing the size or impact of obstacles.

curtail obstructions

Focuses on limiting or cutting back hindrances.

lighten burdens

Highlights reducing the weight or pressure of difficulties.

FAQs

How can I use "lessen obstacles" in a sentence?

You can use "lessen obstacles" when you want to describe actions taken to reduce difficulties or barriers. For example, "The government implemented new policies to "reduce barriers" for small businesses".

What are some alternatives to "lessen obstacles"?

Alternatives include "reduce barriers", "minimize challenges", or "mitigate difficulties", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "lessen obstacles" formal or informal?

"Lessen obstacles" is suitable for various contexts, ranging from news reports to academic papers. While not overly formal, it maintains a professional tone. Alternatives like "ease restrictions" may be more suited for highly formal contexts.

What is the difference between "lessen obstacles" and "remove obstacles"?

"Lessen obstacles" implies reducing the impact or severity of barriers, while "remove obstacles" suggests completely eliminating them. The choice depends on whether the barriers are being diminished or eradicated entirely. Using "eliminate impediments" is another alternative for remove obstacles.