adjective

diminished

dih-MIH-nihsht

adjective

Made smaller, weaker, or less important than before.

"He returned from the injury with a noticeably diminished ability to sprint."

"Her role at the company felt diminished after the merger."

In music, describing an interval or chord lowered by a semitone from its normal size.

"The song's tension comes from that eerie diminished chord in the chorus."

How to Use Diminished

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishReduced in size, strength, or importance — or, in music, a chord/interval shrunk by a half-step.

Common pairings

diminished capacity diminished responsibility diminished chord

more diminished comparative, most diminished superlative

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He returned from the injury with a noticeably _____ ability to sprint.

lessened reduced

antonym(s) of augmented

derivative anarchy fact artificial textile lofty minor service

fished famished vanished polished punished finished banished cherished furnished published nourished anguished

lessened reduced antonym(s) of augmented derivative anarchy fact artificial textile lofty minor service