Question 1 · Quick check
diminish
CEFRB2
/dɪˈmɪnɪʃ/
verb
Türkçe translations
Translating…
In plain English
- 01
verb
To become or make smaller, weaker, or less important.
- 02
verb
Extra detailTo become less or smaller.
Examples
Adding more light will diminish the shadows in the dark room.
To say so should not diminish his importance.
At a glance
Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale
- Senses
- 5
- Parts of speech
- 1
- Citations
- 5
- Synonyms
- 5
Deep Dive
verb
Extra meaningsTo make appear smaller than in reality; to dismiss as unimportant.
To make smaller.
To lessen the authority or dignity of; to put down; to degrade; to abase; to weaken; to nerf (in gaming).
More examples
In contextTom was accused of lying to the court in an effort to diminish his culpability.
1639, Ralph Robinson (translator), Utopia by Thomas More, London, Book 2, “Of their journying or travelling abroad,” p. 197, […] this doth nothing diminish their opinion.
The threat of terrorism to the British lies in the overreaction to it of British governments. Each one in turn clicks up the ratchet of surveillance, intrusion and security. Each one diminishes liberty.
Related
Quick test
Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.
Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.
Nearby
Origin
verb
Formed under the influence of both diminue (from Old French diminuer, from Latin dīminuo) and minish.