[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":147},["ShallowReactive",2],{"w-reduce":3},{"word":4,"pos":5,"definition":6,"senses":7,"antonyms":127,"tip":136,"faq":137},"reduce","verb","to make something smaller, less, or lower, or to become smaller, less, or lower.",[8,59,93],{"label":9,"pos":5,"gloss":10,"synonyms":11},"make smaller","make an amount, size, or degree less",[12,21,28,33,39,44,49,54],{"w":13,"intensity":14,"formality":14,"contexts":15,"nuance":19,"example":20},"decrease",3,[16,17,18],"academic","business","casual","standard neutral term for making less","We need to decrease energy use this winter.",{"w":22,"intensity":23,"formality":14,"contexts":24,"nuance":26,"example":27},"lessen",2,[16,17,25,18],"creative","often suggests easing an undesired amount","The new policy should lessen delays.",{"w":29,"intensity":14,"formality":23,"contexts":30,"nuance":31,"example":32},"cut",[17,18],"more direct; often for budgets or amounts","The company plans to cut costs by 10%.",{"w":34,"intensity":23,"formality":35,"contexts":36,"nuance":37,"example":38},"diminish",4,[16,17,25],"slightly more formal; often gradual","Better drainage can diminish flood risk.",{"w":40,"intensity":23,"formality":23,"contexts":41,"nuance":42,"example":43},"trim",[17,18],"suggests small, careful reduction","They trimmed the budget without layoffs.",{"w":45,"intensity":14,"formality":14,"contexts":46,"nuance":47,"example":48},"lower",[16,17,18],"used especially for prices, levels, and rates","The bank lowered interest rates.",{"w":50,"intensity":14,"formality":23,"contexts":51,"nuance":52,"example":53},"shrink",[17,18],"suggests becoming physically or numerically smaller","The workforce may shrink next year.",{"w":55,"intensity":23,"formality":14,"contexts":56,"nuance":57,"example":58},"pare down",[17,25],"carefully reduce to essentials","We pared down the presentation to five slides.",{"label":60,"pos":5,"gloss":61,"synonyms":62},"make weaker","make a feeling, effect, or problem less strong",[63,68,73,78,83,88],{"w":64,"intensity":23,"formality":14,"contexts":65,"nuance":66,"example":67},"dampen",[17,25,16],"softens enthusiasm or effect","Bad news can dampen investor confidence.",{"w":69,"intensity":23,"formality":14,"contexts":70,"nuance":71,"example":72},"ease",[16,17,18],"suggests making pressure or pain less severe","The medication should ease the pain.",{"w":74,"intensity":23,"formality":35,"contexts":75,"nuance":76,"example":77},"alleviate",[16,17],"formal; often used for suffering or problems","The grant will alleviate housing stress.",{"w":79,"intensity":23,"formality":35,"contexts":80,"nuance":81,"example":82},"mitigate",[16,17],"formal; reduce harmful effects or risks","The plan aims to mitigate environmental damage.",{"w":84,"intensity":23,"formality":23,"contexts":85,"nuance":86,"example":87},"dull",[25,18],"make a sensation or feeling less sharp","The cold dulled the pain in his hands.",{"w":89,"intensity":23,"formality":35,"contexts":90,"nuance":91,"example":92},"temper",[16,17,25],"formal; moderate or soften an effect","Her remarks tempered the public reaction.",{"label":94,"pos":5,"gloss":95,"synonyms":96},"bring down","lower someone or something to a lower level or condition",[97,101,106,111,117,122],{"w":94,"intensity":14,"formality":23,"contexts":98,"nuance":99,"example":100},[17,18],"plain phrasal form; often with prices or numbers","They want to bring down healthcare costs.",{"w":102,"intensity":35,"formality":14,"contexts":103,"nuance":104,"example":105},"drive down",[17],"stronger effort to lower something substantially","Competition drove down prices.",{"w":107,"intensity":14,"formality":23,"contexts":108,"nuance":109,"example":110},"push down",[17,18],"less formal; suggests downward pressure","A stronger dollar pushed down exports.",{"w":112,"intensity":113,"formality":23,"contexts":114,"nuance":115,"example":116},"slash",5,[17,18],"much stronger; very large reduction","The retailer slashed prices after the holiday.",{"w":118,"intensity":23,"formality":35,"contexts":119,"nuance":120,"example":121},"curb",[16,17],"formal; restrain so it becomes lower or smaller","New rules may curb smoking among teens.",{"w":123,"intensity":23,"formality":14,"contexts":124,"nuance":125,"example":126},"scale back",[17,18],"reduce activity, plans, or spending gradually","The team scaled back its expansion plans.",[128,129,130,131,132,133,134,135],"increase","raise","expand","enlarge","boost","heighten","grow","improve","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.",[138,141,144],{"q":139,"a":140},"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.",{"q":142,"a":143},"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.",{"q":145,"a":146},"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.",1790472037757]