lessening

less·en  (lsn)

v. less·ened, less·en·ing, less·ens

v.tr.

1. To make less; reduce.

2. Archaic To make little of; belittle.

v.intr.

To become less; decrease. See Synonyms at decrease.

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[Middle English lessen, lessenen, from lesse, less; see less.]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

lessening - a change downward; "there was a decrease in his temperature as the fever subsided"; "there was a sharp drop-off in sales" decrease, drop-off 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"