Definitions

minimize

[min-uh-mahyz] / ˈmɪn əˌmaɪz /

VERB

make smaller; underrate

Synonyms

STRONGEST

curtail decrease diminish downplay lessen play down reduce trivialize underestimate

STRONG

abbreviate attenuate belittle cheapen decry deprecate depreciate derogate detract discount disparage dwarf knock miniaturize pan pooh-pooh prune shrink underplay

WEAK

cut down to size knock down make light of make little of poor-mouth put down run down

Antonyms

STRONGEST

develop enlarge expand extend grow increase lengthen prolong raise strengthen

STRONG

approve build up commend compliment exalt laud praise

WEAK

maximize overestimate overrate

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Your happy task will be to maintain flexibility across all of your taxable, traditional, and Roth accounts to minimize your taxes in retirement.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 20, 2026

Drones minimize risks to sailors and could give the U.S. negotiating leverage if they help open the waterway.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

“In building any new facilities, we want to carefully look at those impacts and minimize them.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 15, 2026

Each effort to minimize the story has amplified it.

From Salon • Apr. 13, 2026

Evidently, this medicine was going to drip into him for twenty-four hours, and then they would give him other drugs to minimize the poisoning he would get from this drug.

From "Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie" by Jordan Sonnenblick

Vocabulary lists containing minimize

Words to Know Before You Defrost the Bird

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List 3

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Kindred

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