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de·crease
 (d -kr s )
KEY
intr. & tr.v. de·creased , de·creas·ing , de·creas·es
(d krs )
ETYMOLOGY: Middle English decresen, from Old French decreistre , decreiss-, from Latin d crscere : d-, de- + crscere, to grow; see ker-
2 in Indo-European rootsOTHER FORMS: de·creas ing·ly
(Adverb)
SYNONYMS: decrease , lessen , reduce , dwindle , abate , diminish , subside These verbs mean to become or cause to become smaller or less. Decrease and lessen refer to steady or gradual diminution: Lack of success decreases confidence. His appetite lessens as his illness progresses. Reduce emphasizes bringing down in size, degree, or intensity: The workers reduced their wage demands. Dwindle suggests decreasing bit by bit to a vanishing point: Their savings dwindled away. Abate stresses a decrease in amount or intensity and suggests a reduction of excess: Toward evening the fire began to abate. Diminish implies taking away or removal: The warden's authority diminished after the revolt. Subside implies a falling away to a more normal level: The wild enthusiasm aroused by the team's victory did not subside for days.
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