alteration, change, modification - an event that occurs when something passes from one state or phase to another; "the change was intended to increase sales"; "this storm is certainly a change for the worse"; "the neighborhood had undergone few modifications since his last visit years ago"

shrinkage, shrinking - process or result of becoming less or smaller; "the material lost 2 inches per yard in shrinkage"

casualty - a decrease of military personnel or equipment

sinking - a slow fall or decline (as for lack of strength); "after several hours of sinking an unexpected rally rescued the market"; "he could not control the sinking of his legs"

attrition - a wearing down to weaken or destroy; "a war of attrition"

dwindling, dwindling away - a becoming gradually less; "there is no greater sadness that the dwindling away of a family"

waning - a gradual decrease in magnitude or extent; "the waning of his enthusiasm was obvious"; "the waxing and waning of the moon"

decay, decline - a gradual decrease; as of stored charge or current

decline, diminution - change toward something smaller or lower

desensitisation, desensitization - the process of reducing sensitivity; "the patient was desensitized to the allergen"

narrowing - a decrease in width

process - a sustained phenomenon or one marked by gradual changes through a series of states; "events now in process"; "the process of calcification begins later for boys than for girls"

slippage - a decrease of transmitted power in a mechanical system caused by slipping

wastage - the process of wasting

amount - how much of something is available; "an adequate amount of food for four people"

free fall, drop, dip, fall - a sudden sharp decrease in some quantity; "a drop of 57 points on the Dow Jones index"; "there was a drop in pressure in the pulmonary artery"; "a dip in prices"; "when that became known the price of their stock went into free fall"

shrinkage - the amount by which something shrinks

change of magnitude - the act of changing the amount or size of something

cut - the act of reducing the amount or number; "the mayor proposed extensive cuts in the city budget"

moderation - the action of lessening in severity or intensity; "the object being control or moderation of economic depressions"

lowering - the act of causing to become less

cutback - a reduction in quantity or rate

devaluation - the reduction of something's value or worth

devitalisation, devitalization - the act of reducing the vitality of something

mitigation, palliation, extenuation - to act in such a way as to cause an offense to seem less serious

alleviation, easement, easing, relief - the act of reducing something unpleasant (as pain or annoyance); "he asked the nurse for relief from the constant pain"

de-escalation - (war) a reduction in intensity (of a crisis or a war)

minimisation, minimization - the act of reducing something to the least possible amount or degree or position

depletion - the act of decreasing something markedly

shortening - act of decreasing in length; "the dress needs shortening"

shrinking - the act of becoming less

subtraction, deduction - the act of subtracting (removing a part from the whole); "he complained about the subtraction of money from their paychecks"

deflation - the act of letting the air out of something

discount, price reduction, deduction - the act of reducing the selling price of merchandise

rollback - reducing prices back to some earlier level

weakening - the act of reducing the strength of something

depreciation - a decrease in price or value; "depreciation of the dollar against the yen"

contraction - the act of decreasing (something) in size or volume or quantity or scope

reverse split, reverse stock split, split down - a decrease in the number of outstanding shares of a corporation without changing the shareholders' equity

amortisation, amortization - the reduction of the value of an asset by prorating its cost over a period of years

declassification - reduction or removal by the government of restrictions on a classified document or weapon

tax shelter, shelter - a way of organizing business to reduce the taxes it must pay on current earnings

tax credit - a direct reduction in tax liability (not dependent on the taxpayer's tax bracket)

break - diminish or discontinue abruptly; "The patient's fever broke last night"

shrivel, shrink - decrease in size, range, or extent; "His earnings shrank"; "My courage shrivelled when I saw the task before me"

taper - diminish gradually; "Interested tapered off"

drop off - fall or diminish; "The number of students in this course dropped off after the first test"

vaporize, vanish, fly - decrease rapidly and disappear; "the money vanished in las Vegas"; "all my stock assets have vaporized"

break - fall sharply; "stock prices broke"

ease off, slacken off, ease up, flag - become less intense

change magnitude - change in size or magnitude

weaken - become weaker; "The prisoner's resistance weakened after seven days"

boil down, decoct, concentrate, reduce - be cooked until very little liquid is left; "The sauce should reduce to one cup"

contract, shrink - become smaller or draw together; "The fabric shrank"; "The balloon shrank"

shrink, shrivel, shrivel up, wither - wither, especially with a loss of moisture; "The fruit dried and shriveled"

die away, let up, slack off, abate, slack - become less in amount or intensity; "The storm abated"; "The rain let up after a few hours"

deflate - become deflated or flaccid, as by losing air; "The balloons deflated"

dwindle, dwindle away, dwindle down - become smaller or lose substance; "Her savings dwindled down"

remit - diminish or abate; "The pain finally remitted"

de-escalate - diminish in size, scope, or intensity; "The war of words between them de-escalated with time"

devaluate, devalue, undervalue, depreciate - lose in value; "The dollar depreciated again"

shorten - become short or shorter; "In winter, the days shorten"

thin out - become sparser; "Towards the end of town, the houses thinned out"

wane, go down, decline - grow smaller; "Interest in the project waned"

wane - decrease in phase; "the moon is waning"

wane - become smaller; "Interest in his novels waned"

decelerate, slow, slow down, slow up, retard - lose velocity; move more slowly; "The car decelerated"

decrescendo - grow quieter; "The music decrescendoes here"

alter, change, modify - cause to change; make different; cause a transformation; "The advent of the automobile may have altered the growth pattern of the city"; "The discussion has changed my thinking about the issue"

mitigate - make less severe or harsh; "mitigating circumstances"

pare, pare down - decrease gradually or bit by bit

confine, limit, circumscribe - restrict or confine, "I limit you to two visits to the pub a day"

boil down, concentrate, reduce - cook until very little liquid is left; "The cook reduced the sauce by boiling it for a long time"

shrink, reduce - reduce in size; reduce physically; "Hot water will shrink the sweater"; "Can you shrink this image?"

abridge, foreshorten, abbreviate, shorten, contract, reduce, cut - reduce in scope while retaining essential elements; "The manuscript must be shortened"

abate, slake, slack - make less active or intense

lour, lower, turn down - make lower or quieter; "turn down the volume of a radio"

de-escalate, step down, weaken - reduce the level or intensity or size or scope of; "de-escalate a crisis"

minimize, minimise - make small or insignificant; "Let's minimize the risk"

cut down, reduce, trim back, trim down, cut, cut back, trim, bring down - cut down on; make a reduction in; "reduce your daily fat intake"; "The employer wants to cut back health benefits"

cut - have a reducing effect; "This cuts into my earnings"

slack up, slacken, slack, relax - make less active or fast; "He slackened his pace as he got tired"; "Don't relax your efforts now"

diminish, belittle - lessen the authority, dignity, or reputation of; "don't belittle your colleagues"