diminished

British  

/ dɪˈmɪnɪʃt /

adjective

1. reduced or lessened; made smaller

2. music denoting any minor or perfect interval reduced by a semitone

3. music denoting a triad consisting of the root plus a minor third and a diminished fifth

4. music (postpositive) (esp in jazz or pop music) denoting a diminished seventh chord having as its root the note specified

   B diminished

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Explanation

If you drive through a tunnel, you’ll notice that your cell phone reception is diminished. When something is diminished, it’s been weakened or lessened. Diminished is an adjective used when something has lost its power, prestige, or worth. The value of a car, for instance, is diminished over time by wear and tear. In some instances, diminished means "belittled," or made to seem like less in the face of something perceived as better or greater. The popularity of a laptop, for instance, will be diminished if a cheaper, more powerful model is released. Leaders and politicians who get involved in scandals often suffer diminished reputations.

Example Sentences

Hastings’ exit was not unexpected as his role in the company diminished after he stepped aside as co-chief executive of Netflix in 2023.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

In the end, all the participants in this fight might be diminished.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

State Street said that as oil prices slide, worries about Fed rate hikes have diminished.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

They are now anchored by the hard reality of diminished capacity.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

When I regained some sensibility and my vision started to come back, the circle diminished and I started to look around.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam

Related Words

• barred
• blocked
• closed
• confined
• controlled
• defined
• deprived
• prescribed
• reduced
• restrained
• secured
• shortened
• tethered