significantly lessen

USAGE SUMMARY

"significantly lessen" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it when discussing a reduction in intensity, amount, or degree that is considerable. Example: "The new policy aims to significantly lessen the impact of pollution." Alternative expressions include "greatly reduce" and "substantially decrease."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

22 human-written examples

But the team's planned move to Brooklyn is at a standstill, which could significantly lessen the chances of James becoming a Net.

The New York Times - Sports

Rose's appointment is one of the few events that will significantly lessen his ability to persuade shareholders to throw in their lot with him.

The Guardian - Business

Detailed plans commissioned by local authorities show an alternative 15-mile bored tunnel route that they claim would have greater operational efficiency and significantly lessen the impact of construction on the environment and communities.

The Guardian

The company's board minutes stated that Ernst & Young, who audited the company's financial statements as well, confirmed that the use of the scheme would also "significantly lessen the transparency of reported results".

The Guardian - Opinion

Two issues with the Venice Project significantly lessen my enthusiasm for it.

TechCrunch

Having status information on your friends directly in the browser could significantly lessen the need to visit those sites directly.

TechCrunch

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

37 human-written examples

The heating was on, increasing the rate of decomposition, which significantly lessened the chances of retrieving evidence from the corpse.

The Guardian

"It also significantly lessens the teaching fatigue and burn-out feelings of teachers, though it does not affect their overall satisfaction from work".

The Guardian

The physical and emotional discomfort for women is significantly lessened, she said; in fact, most women don't feel anything.

The New York Times - Health

Precisely how much they are getting paid by Apple (a company, let's not forget, with an estimated $200bn in cash reserves) is not clear, but this is surely a deal that significantly lessens the financial risk for U2.

The Guardian - Music

Blacker proposed a number of short-term and long-term solutions, from mandatory x-rays of horses' joints before they run, to the closure of racetracks as training centers and an increase in private training facilities, significantly lessening the general wear and tear racetracks suffer.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "significantly lessen" when you want to emphasize a notable and impactful reduction. Ensure the context clearly indicates what is being reduced and the extent of the reduction.

Common error

Avoid using "significantly lessen" when the actual reduction is minimal or negligible. Ensure the degree of reduction warrants the use of the adverb "significantly".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "significantly lessen" functions as a verb phrase where the adverb "significantly" modifies the verb "lessen". This combination expresses a substantial reduction in the intensity, amount, or degree of something. Ludwig AI confirms its proper usage.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

Science

32%

News & Media

44%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "significantly lessen" is a versatile phrase used to describe a noticeable and impactful reduction. As Ludwig AI confirms, it's grammatically sound and appropriate for various contexts. While alternatives like "substantially decrease" and "markedly diminish" exist, the choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey. Remember to use this phrase when the reduction is indeed significant and warrants the emphasis.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

substantially decrease

Emphasizes a considerable reduction in amount or degree; implies a measurable change.

markedly diminish

Highlights a noticeable and distinct decrease; focuses on the visibility of the reduction.

considerably alleviate

Suggests reducing the intensity or severity of something burdensome or painful.

greatly mitigate

Focuses on reducing the harmful effects or impact of something.

noticeably abate

Implies a reduction in intensity or degree that is easily observed or perceived.

significantly curtail

Focuses on restricting or limiting something to a considerable extent.

appreciably reduce

Indicates a decrease that is large enough to be recognized or valued.

substantially ease

Suggests making something less difficult or burdensome to a significant degree.

remarkably weaken

Highlights a considerable reduction in strength, power, or effectiveness.

notably lighten

Indicates that something has become less heavy, burdensome, or serious in a way that is worth mentioning.

FAQs

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

Use "significantly lessen" to indicate a considerable reduction in something. For example: "The new policy will "significantly lessen" the environmental impact of the project."

What are some alternatives to "significantly lessen"?

Alternatives include "substantially decrease", "markedly diminish", or "considerably alleviate" depending on the specific context.

Is it better to use "significantly reduce" or "significantly lessen"?

Both "significantly reduce" and "significantly lessen" are grammatically correct and convey a similar meaning. The choice depends on the specific nuance you want to express. "Reduce" is more general, while "lessen" often implies a reduction in severity or impact.

What is the difference between "lessen" and "reduce"?

"Lessen" implies a decrease in intensity, degree, or severity, while "reduce" suggests a decrease in quantity or size. Using "significantly lessen" emphasizes the impact is being softened, whereas using significantly reduce may emphasize the quantity being decreased.