What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Lessen vs Weaken - What's the difference?

lessen | weaken | Related terms |

In transitive terms the difference between lessen and weaken

is that lessen is to make less; to diminish; to reduce while weaken is to make weaker.

In intransitive terms the difference between lessen and weaken

is that lessen is to become less while weaken is to become weaker.

lessen

English

Verb

(en verb)
  • To make less; to diminish; to reduce.
  • * Calamy
  • Charity shall lessen his punishment.
  • * Atterbury
  • St. Paul chose to magnify his office when ill men conspired to lessen it.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2011 , date=December 16 , author=Denis Campbell , title=Hospital staff 'lack skills to cope with dementia patients' , work=Guardian citation , page= , passage=Many hospitals have not taken simple steps to lessen the distress and confusion which dementia sufferers' often feel on being somewhere so unfamiliar – such as making signs large and easy to read, using colour schemes to help patients find their way around unfamiliar wards and not putting family mementoes such as photographs nearby.}}
  • To become less.
  • Anagrams

    * * English ergative verbs ----

    weaken

    English

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To make weaker.
  • To become weaker.