SYNONYMS AND RELATED EXPRESSIONS
minimize
verb
To reduce something as much as possible, or to present it as less important.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
Reduce to a minimum
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topMinimize aims at the smallest feasible amount; reduce only states that the amount becomes smaller.
Make seem less important
Closest synonyms
Related words and expressions
These extend or explain the idea and may require a different sentence structure.
Usage distinction
Return to topDownplaying changes how something is presented; it does not necessarily reduce the underlying problem.
CHECK THE MEANING IN CONTEXT
See minimize in use
The revised layout was designed to minimize wasted space.
The coordinator refused to minimize the hour-long waits in her trial report, describing the delays plainly rather than making them seem trivial.
Compare an alternative with the original word in each passage. Shared meanings do not make every pair interchangeable.
Synonym reference scope and sources
The groups distinguish the senses selected for this study entry. Closest synonyms and broader related expressions have separate labels. The listed sources support lexical selection; not every phrase is a direct quotation from a source.
How the synonym reference was prepared / WordNet 3.0 license