What is another word for lessening ?

That lessens the seriousness of something by providing an excuse

Adjective

Causing the reduction or diminution of something

reductive

diminishing

diminutive

Noun

Reduction or decrease

not what it was cracked up to be

ineffective conclusion

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Noun

misrepresentation of character

The act of disparaging or belittling

caviling^US

cavilling^UK

character assassination

libeling^US

disfavor^US

libelling^UK

disfavour^UK

defamation of character

offense^US

rumour^UK

offence^UK

rumor^US

backhanded compliment

rumours^UK

rumors^US

rap over the knuckles

dishonor^US

dishonour^UK

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Noun

The act of abridging

Noun

The process of becoming smaller

Noun

A statement or assertion that makes another less absolute

essential requirement

scepticism^UK

skepticism^US

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Verb

in a state of deterioration

In a period of decrease or decline

shriveling^US

shrivelling^UK

taking a turn for the worse

going into a tailspin

going through the floor

going to rack and ruin

going down the toilet

becoming less intense

losing its effectiveness

sinking into oblivion

corroding

coming apart at seams

having one foot in the grave

disappearing from the face of the earth

moldering^US

mouldering^UK

vanishing into thin air

coming apart at the seams

falling into disrepair

becoming less in number

becoming less dense

becoming less numerous

losing lustre

paling into insignificance

growing dull

paling

decreasing in importance

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“The attention she gives him will certainly lessen once the baby is born.”

Verb

Present participle for to make or become less

acceding to somebody's demands

cauterizing^US

throwing cold water on

cauterising^UK

pouring cold water on

paralysing^UK

deodorizing^US

paralyzing^US

economizing^US

economising^UK

succoring^US

deodorising^UK

succouring^UK

decreasing the volume

reducing the force of

stabilizing^US

tenderizing^US

stabilising^UK

harmonizing^US

organizing^US

tenderising^UK

reducing the impact of

softening the impact of

reducing the effect of

lessening the impact of

humouring^UK

bringing to a standstill

adding reservations to

humoring^US

meeting halfway

inflecting

monkeying around with

making something bearable

taking the bite out of

tweaking

fine-tuning

giving little weight to

harmonising^UK

taking the sting out of

giving a lower profile

attaching little importance to

amortising^UK

amortizing^US

organising^UK

marshaling^US

marshalling^UK

putting on a Band-Aid

papering over the cracks

running interference for

throwing a spanner in the works of

bringing to screeching halt

putting a brake on

baulking^UK

balking^US

throwing a monkey wrench in the works of

making allowances for

giving an explanation for

coming up with an explanation for

putting the brakes on

hitting the brakes

getting in the way of

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“They diminish our humanity and, for that reason, they lessen our capacity for God.”

Verb

putting someone in their place

Present participle for to decrease the value, character, or quality of

brutalizing^US

brutalising^UK

dishonoring^US

biasing^US

biassing^UK

colouring^UK

coloring^US

treating with disrespect

putting double whammy on

lowering the status of

making someone eat crow

showing up

taking down a peg or two

making someone eat humble pie

dragging through the mud

libeling^US

libelling^UK

bringing into disrepute

showing in a bad light

dragging through the mire

cutting to the quick

casting aspersions on

insulting

giving a bad name

putting in a bad light

bringing shame upon

bringing shame on

reducing the status of

giving a bad name to

reflecting on

having the last laugh on

taking the wind out of someone's sails

getting the better of

bringing discredit to

bringing dishonour to

cowing

lowering in rank

making someone feel ashamed

forcing to eat humble pie

blackening the name of

popping one's balloon

making one feel small

reducing to the ranks

putting in your place

bringing into disfavour

taking rug out from under

doing a hatchet job on

knocking bottom out of

putting someone to shame

taking the wind out

getting one's comeuppance

tarring and feathering

calling someone names

getting under control

treating disrespectfully

underestimating

cutting dead

hurting someone's feelings

provoking

stepping on one's toes

giving someone the cold-shoulder

causing to feel small

putting out of countenance

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Verb

Present participle for to make less

setting too little store by

doing an injustice to

setting little store by

thinking too little of

doing a hatchet job on

dragging through the mud

failing to appreciate

criticizing^US

pummelling^UK

criticising^UK

throwing brickbats at

casting aspersions on

libeling^US

libelling^UK

dishonoring^US

dragging through the mire

bringing into disrepute

spreading scandal about

giving a bad press to

running smear campaign

tarring and feathering

bringing shame upon

reflecting badly on

bringing shame on

blackening the name of

bringing discredit to

belaboring^US

belabouring^UK

sullying the reputation of

blackening the character of

running a smear campaign against

treating as unimportant

misrepresenting

blackening the reputation of

chiding

carpeting

anathematizing

conducting a smear campaign against

blackening someone's name

calling someone names

hauling over the coals

cutting down

dragging someone's name through the mud

tearing off a strip

passing strictures upon

speaking of with disfavour

commenting negatively

demonizing^US

demonising^UK

knocking off high horse

ostracising^UK

ostracizing^US

running something down

declaiming against

giving something a bad press

putting someone in their place

putting in a bad light

owning

disfavouring

making someone eat crow

attainting

taking down a peg or two

writing false reports about

spreading tales about

shooting full of holes

dragging name through mud

disobliging

teasing

vexing

treating disrespectfully

hurting someone's feelings

stepping on one's toes

giving someone the cold-shoulder

holding forth against

jumping on one's case

snapping someone's head off

going for the jugular

rapping over the knuckles

biting someone's head off

jumping down one's throat

giving someone a rocket

giving someone a bollocking

giving someone a roasting

giving someone a rollicking

giving someone a bad press

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Verb

Present participle for to shorten in duration or extent

summarising^UK

summarizing^US

epitomising^UK

epitomizing^US

giving an abstract of

putting in a nutshell

making a long story short

putting the brakes on

putting a restriction on

giving the main points of

giving a thumbnail sketch of

giving a quick rundown on

giving a rough idea of

giving a brief idea of

giving a resume of

blocking out

giving an precis of

going through the main points of

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Verb

pulling the rug out from under

Present participle for to have a diminishing effect on

putting the kibosh on

subverting

sapping

shaking

having a bad effect on

throwing a monkey wrench into

putting out of commission

putting out of action

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Verb

Present participle for to apply business methodology to something in order to profit

developing as business

Verb

(of colors) Present participle for to render pale or less bright

Verb

Present participle for to neutralize or cancel by exerting an opposite and equal force

Verb