1. (v.) To make less; to reduce; to make smaller, or fewer; to diminish; to lower; to degrade; as, to lessen a kingdom, or a population; to lessen speed, rank, fortune.

2. (v. i.) To become less; to shrink; to contract; to decrease; to be diminished; as, the apparent magnitude of objects lessens as we recede from them; his care, or his wealth, lessened.

abate ablate abrade abridge abstract allay alleviate allow for amputate anesthetize appease assuage attemper bank the fire bate be eaten away benumb blunt chasten clip close color compress constrain consume consume away control corrode crop crumble curtail cushion cut cut back cut down damp dampen de-emphasize deaden deaden the pain decline decrease deduct deflate deliquesce depreciate depress derogate detract die away diminish disparage dive downgrade downplay drain drop drop off dull dwindle ease ease matters eat away ebb erode extenuate extract fall fall away fall off file away foment give relief gloss over ignore impair keep within bounds languish lay leach lenify let up lighten lower lull make allowance for melt away mince minify mitigate moderate modulate mollify numb obtund pad palliate pare play down plummet plunge poultice pour balm into pour oil on purify reduce reduce the temperature refine relieve remove restrain retrench roll back rub away run low sag salve scale down shorten shrink simplify sink slacken slake slow down slur over smother sober sober down soft-pedal soften soothe step down stifle stupe subduct subdue subside subtract suppress tail off take away take from tame temper thin thin out tone down truncate tune down underplay varnish wane waste waste away weaken wear wear away weed whitewash withdraw