diminish

Universal Words verb 1 to become or to make sth become smaller, weaker, etc. SYNDECREASE: [V] The world's resources are rapidly diminishing. * His influence has diminished with time. * Our efforts were producing diminishing returns (= we achieved less although we spent more time or money). [also VN] 2 [VN] to make sb/sth seem less important than they really are: I don't wish to diminish the importance of their contribution.