Alo is standing on a rooftop somewhere in Dhaka. Heavy rainfall with thunderstorms begins to decrease over time, and eventually the rain stops.
Which words come to mind to describe this situation?
These 16 words belong to the word group of "Decrease/Reduction," generally meaning to make or become less severe, intense, or numerous.
I. General Reduction, Lessening, and Diminishing
This group focuses on the overall process of becoming smaller, weaker, or less in scope:
1) Abate (Verb): Means to decrease, reduce, subside, lessen, diminish, mitigate, dwindle, recede, or wane.
It is used when something like a storm, pain, anger, or a problem decreases in intensity, quantity, or spread. The noun form, abatement, means a reduction in taxes.
2) Diminish (Verb): Defined as to reduce or lessen in duration, scope, etc.. It is listed as a synonym for abate and curtail.
3) Lessen (Verb): Simply defined as to reduce. It is listed as a synonym for abate and curtail.
4) Diminution (Noun): Refers to the process of making something smaller or less in size, importance, or degree.
It is defined as a reduction and often implies a decline (e.g., in profits or performance).
5) Subside (Verb): Means to become less intense, violent, or severe, or to decrease or settle down.
6) Wane (Verb): To decrease or diminish in size, strength, or intensity over time, implying a gradual decline or fading away.
This word often indicates a reduction in value or influence.
II. Reducing Scope, Duration, or Quantity
These words specifically address making something shorter or restricting its extent:
7) Abridge (Verb): To shorten by condensation or omission while retaining the basic contents.
It means to reduce or lessen in duration, scope, etc., or to diminish or curtail.
8) Curtail (Verb): To reduce in extent or quantity. It means to impose a restriction on something or to cut short.
Synonyms include Diminish, lessen, shorten, and abbreviate.
III. Easing Pain, Severity, or Burden
This group focuses on providing relief or moderating negative effects:
9) Alleviate (Verb): To relieve, usually temporarily or incompletely.
Specifically, to ease or reduce pain, burden, or discomfort or to make bearable or less severe.
10) Mitigate (Verb): To moderate the effect of something. It means to assuage or to lessen the intensity or severity of something.
11) Palliate (Verb): To relieve or alleviate something without getting rid of the problem.
It is synonymous with assuage and mitigate.
IV. Calming and Reducing Emotional Intensity
These words are used to soften feelings, temper, or worry:
12) Assuage (Verb): To soothe, pacify, ease the pain of, or relieve.
Its function is to make an unpleasant feeling less intense or to calm worry or discomfort.
13) Mollify (Verb): To soften in feeling or temper. It means to calm someone down or make them less angry, or to ease the severity of a situation.
Synonyms include Calm, assuage, appease, pacify, soothe.
14) Pacify (Verb): A means of reducing emotional intensity.
V. Reducing Force, Confidence, or Effect
These words describe making something less strong or intense, often figuratively:
15) Dampen (Verb): To make something less strong or intense, specifically to reduce enthusiasm, energy, or effect.
16) Deflate (Verb): Primarily means to release air or gas, causing a decrease in size.
Figuratively, it means to reduce or diminish something, such as emotions or expectations (e.g., confidence). It can also refer to an economic downturn causing deflation.