diminish
To diminish means to become or make something smaller, weaker, or less important. It is often used to describe a reduction in physical size, abstract value, or intensity over time.
例句
3 / 5The noise began to diminish as we walked away from the construction site.
The sound grew quieter as we moved further away.
The witness's credibility began to diminish after the new evidence was presented.
The reliability of the witness decreased following new information.
I don't want to diminish your effort, but we still have a lot of work to do.
I am not trying to make your hard work seem less important.
词族
记忆技巧
Look at the word 'mini' inside di-MINI-sh. It literally means to make something mini or small.
快速测验
The importance of the tradition has started to ____ over the last few decades as fewer young people participate.
正确！
正确答案是： diminish
例句
The noise began to diminish as we walked away from the construction site.
everydayThe sound grew quieter as we moved further away.
The witness's credibility began to diminish after the new evidence was presented.
formalThe reliability of the witness decreased following new information.
I don't want to diminish your effort, but we still have a lot of work to do.
informalI am not trying to make your hard work seem less important.
Studies show that the local wildlife population continues to diminish due to habitat loss.
academicResearch indicates the animal numbers are decreasing because their homes are being destroyed.
The company's profits did not diminish despite the economic downturn.
businessThe business's earnings did not fall even though the economy was bad.
词族
常见搭配
常用短语
law of diminishing returns
the point where more input leads to less output
in a diminished capacity
working or living with less power or ability than before
nothing can diminish
used to say that a feeling remains strong regardless of circumstances
容易混淆的词
Decrease is a general term for getting smaller, while diminish often implies a loss of status, quality, or power.
Demean specifically means to cause someone to lose dignity, whereas diminish refers to size or importance in general.
使用说明
Diminish can be used both as a transitive verb (e.g., 'The scandal diminished his reputation') and an intransitive verb (e.g., 'The supply diminished'). It is particularly common in academic writing to describe trends or the weakening of arguments.
常见错误
Learners often confuse 'diminish' with 'demolish,' which means to completely destroy a building. Additionally, remember that it usually implies a process of fading or reducing rather than an instantaneous stop.
记忆技巧
Look at the word 'mini' inside di-MINI-sh. It literally means to make something mini or small.
词源
Derived from the Old French 'diminuer', which comes from the Latin 'diminuere' meaning 'to break into small pieces' or 'make small.'
语法模式
文化背景
In legal systems, the term 'diminished responsibility' is a specific defense used to argue that a person should not be held fully accountable for a crime due to mental impairment.
快速测验
The importance of the tradition has started to ____ over the last few decades as fewer young people participate.
正确！
正确答案是： diminish
更多academic词汇
empirical
C1Empirical refers to information or knowledge acquired by means of observation or experimentation. It distinguishes claims supported by evidence from those based solely on theory, logic, or speculation.
substantially
B2This adverb describes a change, amount, or difference that is large, important, or considerable in size or value. It is frequently used in formal or academic contexts to quantify the degree to which something has occurred or shifted.
perspective
B2A particular attitude toward or way of regarding something; a point of view. It often involves the ability to consider a situation from multiple angles to understand its relative importance.
discourse
C1Discourse refers to the formal and structured exchange of ideas through speech or writing, often within a specific field of study. It encompasses not just the words used, but the underlying social and intellectual frameworks that shape how a topic is discussed.
ambiguous
C1Describes language, data, or situations that are open to more than one interpretation and lack a single, clear meaning. It is frequently used to identify statements that are vague or confusing because they could be understood in multiple ways.
facilitate
B2To facilitate means to make an action or a process easier or to help it run more smoothly. It is often used to describe providing the necessary conditions or assistance for a goal to be achieved without taking direct control of the outcome.
manipulation
C1Manipulation refers to the skillful handling or controlling of something, often a physical object or data. In a social or psychological context, it often implies influencing others in a clever or unscrupulous way to serve one's own interests.
terminology
B2Terminology refers to the set of specialized terms, symbols, and expressions used within a specific profession, academic subject, or social group. It provides a precise language that allows experts to communicate complex ideas efficiently within their field.
hypothesis
C1A proposed explanation made on the basis of limited evidence as a starting point for further investigation. It is a fundamental element of the scientific method, requiring empirical testing to be validated or refuted.
analyze
B2To examine something methodically and in detail, typically in order to explain and interpret it. It involves breaking a complex topic or substance into smaller parts to gain a better understanding of its internal structure and functions.
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