Lessen and Raise

Lessen

Lessen verb - To make smaller in amount, volume, or extent.
Usage example: we lessened our efforts as it became clear they weren't having an effect

Raise is an antonym for lessen in topics: reduce, lower, increase.

Nearby Words: lessening, less

Raise

Raise verb - To make greater in size, amount, or number.
Usage example: the multiplex raised the minimum age for paid admissions from four to six

Lessen is an antonym for raise in topics: increase, stir up, nurture, reduce, lift.

Nearby Words: raised, raising

Common collocations

power lessen power raise power
time lessen time raise time
suspicion lessen suspicion raise suspicion
morale lessen morale raise morale
Other words: suspicions.

Both words in one sentence

  • Useful Notes / NASA Space advocates would like to raise it back to the Apollo-era level (4.41%), or lessen Congress's control over NASA's missions and strategies.
Cite this Source
Raise and Lessen. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/lessen/raise
Lessen & Raise. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/lessen/raise>.
Raise or Lessen. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/lessen/raise.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "lessen" and "raise" have occurred on timeline