THE WORDCRAFT DEFINITION DICTIONARY
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.
A USEFUL DISTINCTION
Usage note
Minimize may mean actually reducing something or merely making it appear less important; context determines which.
SEE IT IN USE
Examples in context
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.
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Related meanings
Related words can differ in tone and context; they are not always interchangeable.
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This entry is part of the vocabulary collection supplied by GlobalRPh. Definitions are concise study meanings. Examples combine original teaching sentences with selected passages adapted from the supplied study notes; their source is labeled beside each example. A word may have additional specialized or historical senses.
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Source study sections: 5.
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