minimize

USAGE SUMMARY

"minimize" is a word that is correct and usable in written English.
It is an intransitive verb that means to reduce something to the smallest possible amount or degree. For example, "We need to minimize our expenses this month in order to save money."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"At this late date, prompt passage of the USA Freedom Act by the Senate is the best way to minimize any possible disruption of our ability to protect the American people," Clapper said on Friday.

The Guardian

Most cubers employ models designed in China in which the interior mechanism that Rubik originally designed has been revamped to minimize friction.

The Guardian - Tech

Mr Huckabee has sought to minimize his role in Mr Dumond's release, and to emphasize that he could not have predicted the horrific results.

The Economist

If it costs $1,000 to reduce your risk to 0.5% and $1,000,000 to reduce it to 0.1%, there may be economic reasons not to shoot for the diminishing returns.That said responsible companies are taking extraordinary measures to minimize risk.

The Economist

Even dramatic attempts to protect one's health and minimize the need for health care will not always be successful, and the  health care market is characterized by unpredictable and unavoidable needs for care.

The Economist

This could be remedied by including their trend value and thereby minimize the "noise" inherent in these two components.

The Economist

New regulation will tend to spur further innovation, as market participants attempt to minimize the private costs created by new rules.

The Economist

Consider:If adopted it would minimize barriers in services, include sales to government, open up the air travel market and allow skilled Canadians and Europeans to work across borders without visas.Perhaps if Barack Obama is elected and gets to renegotiating NAFTA, he'll decide that tighter integration is the order of the day.

The Economist

"Modern flight management algorithms minimize aggregate wait times and ensure the perfect balance of customer comfort and economic value-added".The rest is here.

The Economist

Now, reports Spencer Ackerman, the ACLU is asking:"The American public has a right to know whether the drone program is consistent with international law, and that all efforts are made to minimize the loss of innocent lives," said Jonathan Manes, a legal fellow with the ACLU National Security Project.

The Economist

Doing so would better anchor nominal spending and income expectations and therefore minimize the chance of ever entering a liquidity-trap.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

To sound more formal, consider "minimize" rather than using informal phrasal verbs like "cut down".

Common error

While "minimize" is widely understood, avoid using it excessively in casual conversations or informal writing, as simpler alternatives like "reduce" or "lessen" might sound more natural.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "minimize" is as a transitive verb. It signifies the action of reducing something to its smallest possible degree or extent. Ludwig's examples show it used in various contexts, from reducing risks to minimizing costs, confirming its active role in sentences.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

36%

News & Media

34%

Formal & Business

15%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

6%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "minimize" is a versatile transitive verb used to express the act of reducing something to the smallest possible degree. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and wide applicability, as supported by numerous examples from diverse sources. While suitable for formal and technical contexts, its use in casual conversation may be less common. When choosing synonyms, consider the specific nuance you want to convey, as alternatives like "reduce", "lessen", and "mitigate" offer different shades of meaning. By understanding these nuances, writers can effectively use "minimize" to enhance the clarity and precision of their writing.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reduce

Focuses on lessening the quantity, size, or degree of something, often implying a measurable decrease.

lessen

Emphasizes a gradual decrease in something, often referring to abstract qualities like pain or difficulty.

mitigate

Highlights efforts to reduce the severity or impact of something negative.

alleviate

Specifically aims to relieve suffering or discomfort.

curtail

Implies restricting or cutting short something.

abbreviate

Focuses on shortening the length of something, typically a written or spoken text.

trim down

Implies removing unnecessary elements to make something more concise or efficient.

scale back

Suggests reducing the size or scope of an operation or activity.

cut back on

Emphasizes reducing consumption or expenditure of something.

downsize

Suggests reducing the size of something like a team, equipment, number of employees, etc

FAQs

How can I use "minimize" in a sentence?

You can use "minimize" to describe reducing something to the smallest possible amount or degree. For example, "We need to "minimize" the risk of errors" or "The goal is to "minimize" costs".

What's the difference between ""minimize"" and "reduce"?

"Minimize" implies reducing something to the smallest possible extent, while "reduce" simply means to make something smaller or less.

What are some synonyms for ""minimize""?

Synonyms for ""minimize"" include reduce, "lessen", "mitigate", and "alleviate". The best choice depends on the specific context and desired nuance.

Is it correct to use ""minimize"" in formal writing?

Yes, ""minimize"" is appropriate for formal writing. It conveys a precise meaning and is widely accepted in academic, business, and professional contexts.