Another Word for Reduce: 13 Synonyms with Examples
To reduce is to make something smaller or less. The best alternative depends on what is being reduced: costs, risk, size or pain.
As a verb: make smaller or less
- decrease
- lessen
- lower
- cut
- minimise
- shrink
- trim
As a verb: make less severe
- ease
- relieve
- alleviate
- soften
- mitigate
- curb
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How they differ
Synonyms share a meaning, not always a tone. Here is when to pick each of the main options.
- lower
- Common with prices, levels and temperatures; simple and neutral.
- cut
- Direct and often sharp, especially for spending, jobs or time.
- minimise
- Reduces to the smallest amount possible, often for risk or harm.
- trim
- A small, careful reduction, like trimming a budget or a text.
- alleviate
- Formal; makes suffering or a problem less severe without removing it.
- mitigate
- Formal; reduces the seriousness of harm or risk.
Example sentences
- lower: The bank lowered its interest rate for first-time buyers.
- cut: We cut the introduction to half a page.
- minimise: Wearing gloves minimises the risk of contamination.
- trim: She trimmed thirty words from her abstract to meet the limit.
- alleviate: Extra buses alleviated crowding at the morning peak.
- mitigate: Flood barriers mitigate the damage from high tides.
Opposite of reduce
- increase
- raise
- expand
- enlarge
Frequently asked questions
What is another word for “reduce”?
The most useful alternatives are “decrease”, “lessen”, “lower”, “cut”, “minimise”. For the main sense (make smaller or less), “decrease” is usually the closest swap.
What is the difference between “lower” and “cut”?
lower: Common with prices, levels and temperatures; simple and neutral. cut: Direct and often sharp, especially for spending, jobs or time.
What is the opposite of “reduce”?
Common antonyms are “increase”, “raise”, “expand”, “enlarge”.