Diminishment — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /də-ˈmi-nish/ di·min·ish

Meaning & Definition of Diminishment

Diminishment (verb)

  1. to make less or cause to appear less
  2. to lessen the authority, dignity, or reputation of, belittle
  3. to cause to taper

Diminishment (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the act of making a person or a thing seem little or unimportant

    "she grew increasingly resentful of her coworker's constant diminishment of her new project ideas"

    similar: belittlement, denigration, deprecation, depreciation, derogation, detraction, disparagement, put-down
    related: aspersion, backbiting, calumny, defamation, libel, slander, vilification, derision, mockery, ridicule, abuse, invective, vituperation, censure, condemnation, criticism, denouncement, denunciation, de-emphasis, minimization, soft-pedaling
    opposite: aggrandizement, ennoblement, exaltation, glorification, magnification
    near: acclaim, praise, approbation, approval, blessing, commendation, hype, puffery

  2. the amount by which something is lessened

    "there was a sharp diminishment in our savings after the college tuition bill was paid"

    similar: abatement, decline, decrease, decrement, dent, depletion, depression, diminution, drop, drop-off, fall, falloff, loss, reduction, shrinkage, step-down
    related: deduction, subtraction, downturn, slip, slump, curtailment, cut, cutback, retrenchment, shortening
    opposite: boost, enlargement, gain, increase, increment, raise, rise, step-up, uptick
    near: accretion, accrual, accumulation, addition, supplement, continuation, extension, upswing, uptrend, upturn

Related Entry: Diminish (verb)

Diminish is a different word from Diminishment. The synonyms below are for diminish, not for diminishment.

  1. to express scornfully one's low opinion of

    "tends to diminish any rival's accomplishments with snide remarks"

    similar: bad-mouth, belittle, cry down, decry, denigrate, deprecate, depreciate, derogate, dis (slang), discount, dismiss, disparage, kiss off, minimize, play down, poor-mouth, put down, run down, talk down, trash, trash-talk, vilipend, write off, dump on
    related: discommend, abuse, scold, disapprove (of), dislike, censure, condemn, criticize, denounce, reprehend, reprobate, asperse, defame, malign, rip, slander, slur, traduce, vilify, discredit, disgrace
    opposite: acclaim, applaud, exalt, extol, glorify, laud, magnify, praise
    near: approve, countenance, endorse, favor, recommend, sanction, commend, compliment, eulogize

  2. to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent

    "the state's blood supplies were severely diminished by the two consecutive disasters"

    similar: abate, de-escalate, decrease, dent, deplete, downscale, downsize, drop, dwindle, ease, knock down, lessen, lower, reduce
    related: compress, condense, constrict, contract, abbreviate, abridge, clip, crop, curtail, cut, cut back, cut down, dock, nick, pare, prune, retrench, shorten, slash, trim, truncate, whittle, deflate, shrink, minimize, moderate, modify, modulate, qualify
    opposite: aggrandize, amplify, augment, boost, enlarge, escalate, expand, increase, raise
    near: blow up, dilate, distend, inflate, swell, elongate, extend, lengthen, prolong, protract, add (to), complement, supplement, enhance, heighten, intensify, redouble

  3. to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually

    "the sound of the train diminished as our distance from it increased"

    similar: abate, de-escalate, decline, decrease, die (away or down or out), drain (away), drop (off), dwindle, ease, ebb, fall, fall away, lessen, let up, lower, moderate, pall, phase down, ratchet (down), recede, relent, remit, shrink, subside, taper, taper off, wane
    related: compress, condense, constrict, contract, evaporate, fade (away), fritter (away), give out, melt (away), peter (out), tail (off), vanish, slacken, slow (down), alleviate, relax, flag, sink, weaken, cave (in), collapse, deflate
    opposite: accumulate, balloon, build, burgeon, enlarge, escalate, expand, grow, increase, intensify, mount, mushroom, pick up, rise, snowball, soar, swell, wax
    near: appear, emerge, show up, blow up, distend, elongate, lengthen

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Diminishment

The most common words with a similar meaning to Diminishment:

belittlement, denigration, deprecation, depreciation, derogation, detraction, disparagement, put-down, abatement, decline, decrease, decrement, dent, depletion, depression, diminution, drop, drop-off, fall, falloff, loss, reduction, shrinkage, step-down

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Diminishment

Words with the opposite meaning of Diminishment:

aggrandizement, ennoblement, exaltation, glorification, magnification, boost, enlargement, gain, increase, increment, raise, rise, step-up, uptick

Related Words for Diminishment

aspersion, backbiting, calumny, defamation, libel, slander, vilification, derision, mockery, ridicule, abuse, invective, vituperation, censure, condemnation, criticism, denouncement, denunciation, de-emphasis, minimization, soft-pedaling, deduction, subtraction, downturn, slip, slump, curtailment, cut, cutback, retrenchment

Near Antonyms of Diminishment

acclaim, praise, approbation, approval, blessing, commendation, hype, puffery, accretion, accrual, accumulation, addition, supplement, continuation, extension, upswing, uptrend, upturn

Word Forms of Diminishment

Inflections: diminished, diminishing, diminishes

Derived words: diminishable (adjective), diminishment (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Diminishment

Middle English deminishen, alteration of diminuen, from Anglo-French diminuer, from Late Latin diminuere, alteration of Latin deminuere, from de- + minuere to lessen minor

First known use: 15th centuryt

Frequently Asked Questions about Diminishment

What does "Diminishment" mean?

"Diminishment" means to make less or cause to appear less. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to make less or cause to appear less. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Diminishment"?

Other words for "Diminishment" include belittlement, denigration, deprecation, depreciation, derogation, detraction, disparagement and put-down. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Diminishment" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Diminishment"?

There are 55 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Diminishment". Common alternatives include belittlement, denigration, deprecation, depreciation, derogation, detraction, disparagement, put-down, abatement and decline.

What is the opposite of "Diminishment"?

Antonyms of "Diminishment" include aggrandizement, ennoblement, exaltation, glorification, magnification, boost, enlargement and gain. Near antonyms include acclaim, praise, approbation and approval.

How do you use "Diminishment" in a sentence?

Examples of "Diminishment" in a sentence: "she grew increasingly resentful of her coworker's constant diminishment of her new project ideas"; "there was a sharp diminishment in our savings after the college tuition bill was paid".

Is "Diminishment" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Diminishment" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Diminishment"?

"Diminishment" is pronounced /də-ˈmi-nish/ and divided into syllables as di·min·ish.

What is the origin of the word "Diminishment"?

"Diminishment" comes from Middle English deminishen, alteration of diminuen, from Anglo-French diminuer, from Late Latin diminuere, alteration of Latin deminuere, from de- + minuere to lessen minor. First known use: 15th centuryt.