Library / English Dictionary

MINIMISE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make small or insignificant

Example:

Let's minimize the risk

Synonyms:

minimise; minimize

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "minimise" is one way to...):

decrease; lessen; minify (make smaller)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "minimise"):

hedge (minimize loss or risk)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Antonym:

maximise (make as big or large as possible)

Derivation:

minimisation (the act of reducing something to the least possible amount or degree or position)

minimum (the smallest possible quantity)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Represent as less significant or important

Synonyms:

downplay; minimise; minimize; understate

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "minimise" is one way to...):

inform (impart knowledge of some fact, state of affairs, or event to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "minimise"):

trivialise; trivialize (make trivial or insignificant)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

minimisation (the act of reducing something to the least possible amount or degree or position)

minimum (the smallest possible quantity)

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