Another word for reduce
The best other words for reduce are decrease, alleviate, bring down and lessen.
- Most formal
- diminish, alleviate, mitigate
- Strongest
- slash, drive down, decrease
- Casual
- cut, trim, shrink
- Instead of “quite a bit”
- a lot, much, significantly
Reduce /rɪˈduːs/ (verb): to make something smaller, less, or lower, or to become smaller, less, or lower. In simple words: to make something smaller, less, or weaker. Below are 20 rated synonyms across 3 senses, plus 32 more related words. Tap a chip for its nuance and an example.
20 synonyms shown
Make smaller · verb
make an amount, size, or degree less
Make weaker · verb
make a feeling, effect, or problem less strong
Bring down · verb
lower someone or something to a lower level or condition
Find the right strength and register
Drag the amber target to how strong and how formal you need the word to be. The three closest synonyms light up.
You asked for: equal strength, neutral register
- decrease — standard neutral term for making less
- lower — used especially for prices, levels, and rates
- lessen — often suggests easing an undesired amount
The dashed ring marks “reduce” itself: neutral strength, neutral register.
Synonyms for reduce in your sentence
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How to choose
Choose the synonym that matches both degree and register: reduce is the safest general verb, while cut, trim, and lower sound more concrete and everyday. For formal writing, mitigate and alleviate are often better when you mean reducing harm, not just quantity.
Antonyms of reduce
All synonyms at a glance
| Synonym | Strength | Formality | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| decrease | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| lessen | 2/5 | neutral | academic, business, creative, casual |
| cut | 3/5 | casual | business, casual |
| diminish | 2/5 | formal | academic, business, creative |
| trim | 2/5 | casual | business, casual |
| lower | 3/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| shrink | 3/5 | casual | business, casual |
| pare down | 2/5 | neutral | business, creative |
| dampen | 2/5 | neutral | business, creative, academic |
| ease | 2/5 | neutral | academic, business, casual |
| alleviate | 2/5 | formal | academic, business |
| mitigate | 2/5 | formal | academic, business |
| dull | 2/5 | casual | creative, casual |
| temper | 2/5 | formal | academic, business, creative |
| bring down | 3/5 | casual | business, casual |
| drive down | 4/5 | neutral | business |
| push down | 3/5 | casual | business, casual |
| slash | 5/5 | casual | business, casual |
| curb | 2/5 | formal | academic, business |
| scale back | 2/5 | neutral | business, casual |
Instead of “very reduce”
One precise word usually beats an intensifier. See the full words instead of “very” list.
| Instead of | Try |
|---|---|
| quite a bit | a lot, much, significantly |
| a little | slightly, somewhat, a bit |
| much | far, considerably, a lot |
More words related to reduce
Looser matches and phrases, unrated. Check the sense before you swap one in, or compare it with “reduce”.
- abate
- belittle
- boil down
- compress
- contract
- cut back
- curtail
- decline
- deplete
- dial down
- diminish in size
- downsize
- draw down
- drastically cut
- dwindle
- eat away at
- exhaust
- fall
- pare
- prune
- put on a diet
- relieve
- restrict
- shorten
- shorten by
- simplify
- thin
- tone down
- trim down
- weaken
- wind down
- whittle down
Questions about synonyms for reduce
What is the most formal or academic synonym for reduce?
Mitigate is often the most formal choice when you mean making a problem, risk, or harm less severe. In academic and business writing, alleviate is also common, especially for pain, stress, or hardship.
What is a stronger or milder synonym for reduce?
Slash is much stronger than reduce and suggests a large, often sudden cut. Milder options include trim, lessen, or ease, which imply a smaller or gentler reduction.
When should I use decrease instead of reduce?
Decrease is usually the best neutral substitute when you want a plain, standard verb for making something smaller in amount, number, or intensity. Reduce is slightly more versatile because it also works well with harm, risk, pressure, and waste.
What is a more formal word for reduce?
In formal writing, people often use "diminish," "curtail," or "decrease." The best choice depends on whether you mean size, amount, strength, or influence.
What can I say instead of reduce in simple English?
Common simple alternatives include "make smaller," "cut down," and "lower." If you mean weakening something, "weaken" or "tone down" can also work.