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minimize

[min-uh-mahyz]

verb (used with object), -mized, -miz·ing.

to reduce to the smallest possible amount or degree.

to represent at the lowest possible amount, value, importance, influence, etc., especially in a disparaging way; belittle.

Also, especially British, min·i·mise.

Origin:
1795–1805; minim(um) + -ize

Related forms

min·i·mi·za·tion, noun

min·i·miz·er, noun

un·min·i·mized, adjective

un·min·i·miz·ing, adjective

Can be confused: minimal, minimize, minimum, minuscule, minutia (see usage note at minuscule).

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Link To minimize

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Minimize is one of our favorite verbs.

So is lollygag. Does it mean:

to expurgate (a written work) by removing or modifying passages considered vulgar or objectionable.

to spend time idly; loaf.

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Example Sentences

Power tools and machines should be designed to minimize vibrations.

Stuff will happen, inevitably, but you may be able to minimize the financial pain.

The above will minimize the cost of the prison system.

EXPAND

Power tools and machines should be designed to minimize vibrations.

Stuff will happen, inevitably, but you may be able to minimize the financial pain.

The above will minimize the cost of the prison system.

The question now, scientists say, is whether humanity can learn to minimize the harmful impacts.

Fourth, you need to insulate the tank to minimize heat loss.

Synchronized hatching may minimize the nest's exposure to predators.

Install a drip irrigation system or use soaker hoses to minimize the splashing water that can spread waterborne diseases.

We can minimize our uncertainty and maximize our control.

They also help minimize some of the inevitable stress that accompanies the evaluation process.

The first, disaster mitigation, is the taking of measures to identify disaster hazards and minimize their effects.

The regulators' job is to minimize systemic risk so that the possibility of total collapse is reduced as far as possible.

Switch to alternative energy uses to minimize human-made global warming.

Yes, water is wasted in the average home by design, but designing a home to minimize water usage will not be easy.

The drug companies are working to minimize these harmful side effects.

Get tips on one of the best ways to maintain soil moisture and minimize the need to weed more.

Minimize your risk of having a bad outcome with your do-it-yourself procedure.

Managing your money well and then stretching too far to minimize taxes is a case in.

Private funds seek not to maximize spillovers and generalize network effects, but to minimize them.

It does not mean it shouldn't be tried, but prudence is crucial to minimize losses.

They urged immediate reduction of greenhouse-gas emissions to try to minimize the potential catastrophe.

City leaders should share best practices to maximize progress and minimize costs.

The structure itself was the city's first green building, built to minimize waste and using recycled materials where possible.

He spaced plants close together to minimize weeds and planted vegetables and flowers together to keep pollinators circulating.

But their increased use may be spurring pirates to think about ways to minimize their effectiveness.

Reframe the question or minimize a negative comment or situation.

There are things you can do traffic wise to minimize the risks of distracted driving.

Reducing, reusing and recycling minimize the amount of waste people generate.

So his goal is to minimize what he lays out in his token of appreciation.

Blank travels at dusk to minimize sun damage and seeks shelter at the first hint of rain.

To minimize shock when planting, cut off container bottom and set both plant and container in planting hole.

Balanced meals, veggies and protein and carbs, minimize the alcohol and sugar and artificial additives.

Do whatever you can to minimize exhaustion and under-nourishment.

We need a single payer for all medical care, to minimize administrative costs.

To minimize the emissions from and energy needed to produce your food, buy local, seasonal foods whenever possible.

The second problem is that the article seems to minimize the social consequences of lying.

To minimize damage to roots, it's best to construct the furrows when the plants are young, before their root systems have spread.

Modern productivity software is made to minimize mental drift.

They minimize the squandering of resources now so those resources will be available for future generations.

It might wish to minimize non-citizen casualties for humanitarian purposes, but it has no obligation to do so.

Organic gardeners maintain plant health and practice cultural controls to minimize pest problems.

To minimize spider mite problems, keep fronds clean and dust free.

Sona's mushroom-cloud-shaped pad is engineered to keep you on your side with your jaw forward to minimize log-sawing.

Make every effort to minimize the direct contact you have with your boss.

Delta, as always, leads the pack in ways to minimize the benefits for its travellers.

Modern landfills are federally regulated and engineered to minimize their environmental impact.

But because you plant out seedlings pot and all, such pots minimize disturbance to roots.

Here are some pointers to help minimize those disappointing moments.

Marx's name last came up in the comments section of a column on how to minimize taxes.

Governments should guarantee deposits as far as practical and manage the failure to minimize the damage.

Minimize printing as much as possible, but when necessary, print double sided to conserve paper.

The producer's goal when making superinexpensive wines is to minimize cost.

As much as possible, physical and virtual spaces have been developed to minimize the need to answer simple directional questions.

It is in our nature to minimize the pain of thought.

The process was choreographed the day before, to minimize the chances for major harm to the body.

Minimize opening and closing the oven door during baking to avoid lowering the temperature.

But because costs in higher education are capped only by total revenues, there is no incentive to minimize costs.

We must move to a single payer to minimize administrative cost.

By reducing your carbon footprint, you can minimize your impact and the amount of greenhouse gases you produce.

Learn how to minimize topsoil loss and optimize water retention.

Nevertheless, it will reduce and minimize the effect of cheating.

Grazing animals are known to orient themselves to minimize heat loss by wind or maximize their exposure to sunlight.

Investors want to minimize risks while maximizing return on investment.

Reflective window films have been installed on some buildings to minimize energy use.

The scientists purposely minimize their contact with the cubs-they never play or talk with them.

If the sky is harsh or uninteresting, put the horizon high to minimize it.

Requires members to minimize bycatch and protect biodiversity.

Minimize fertilizer and pesticide use on your lawn and garden or switch to organic, nontoxic alternatives.

Prison officials argue that such multiple executions minimize overtime costs and reduce stress on prison employees.

Just ask public-college presidents who are seeking to minimize vast spending cuts by cash-strapped legislators this.

However, there are actions you can take to minimize your contribution to greenhouse gas and carbon.

Corporations that design facilities to minimize their environmental impact may earn a financial return, too.

Mulching is one of the best ways to maintain soil moisture and minimize the need to weed.

There are effective treatments that enable people with vision loss to minimize the risk of falls.

Minimize susceptibility by planting in well-drained soil and watering deeply but infrequently.

Travelers' tips from international security consultants on how to minimize risk.

And that means taking direct steps to minimize our vulnerability within the system as it now stands.

Much has been done with chemical and dispersants to minimize and neutralize the spread of this spill.

To minimize spread of the fungus, don't cultivate soil between plants.

Self-healing coatings could minimize upkeep and repair on a variety of products, saving consumers money and reducing waste.

The hospital risk manager's role is to minimize the financial liability from errors.

Learn what steps you can take to minimize the chances you'll get sick.

Rather, if such places are used, there are ways to minimize their potential influence.

With this understanding, engineers could design build better roads to minimize the odds of them happening.

First, promptly inform him of your plans, to minimize his inconvenience.

If you want to minimize coalition deaths, you should target that rather than transportation costs.

Both aerobic and weight lifting can do wonders on getting rid or minimize cellulite in our legs and other parts of the body.

He contended that revisions had been imposed to minimize pollution problems.

Presumably to minimize the risk of revealing his location through contact with the outside world.

The body's made of carbon fiber to minimize weight.

Steps would be taken to minimize risk to the officers riding alone.

Legalization is the obvious step to minimize the violence.

The key to working your heart and lungs while injured is to minimize stress-and know your limits.

The performance of this activity during inactive periods of sleep would minimize its disruption to waking memory.

Eliminating removable memory cards and compartments would help minimize risks from physical break-ins.

The mitigation measures proposed in the impact statement are intended to eliminate or minimize adverse environmental.

Do whatever you can to minimize contact with crazy people.

The straps have been carefully positioned-and cushioned-to minimize rubbing, while medial posting combats pronation.

Ideas include designing the configuration of the craft so as to minimize the resulting plasmasonic.

Drag also depends on how aerodynamic a rider can make their body and how well they can drive the sled to minimize friction.

Tips for backing up your hard drive and protecting your computer can help minimize the risks of traveling with your laptop.

Minimize details as much as you can while still getting the point across.

We need to eliminate fee-for-service, to minimize the incentive to over-treat.

The government-imposed code was set up to minimize accidental capture of dolphins during trawl fishing.

Their secret: consistently conducting prescribed burns to minimize those areas' fire risk, the authors wrote.

The body is made largely of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic to minimize weight while ensuring a high level of safety.

Amplifiers at each pixel serve to minimize distortion.

We need to minimize the cross-sectional area to minimize.

Critics minimize these examples because not one of the nations involved is a military power.

Society as a whole is moving towards a culture where people try to minimize their accountability in their speech.

The conversion process can be tweaked to minimize tailpipe pollution.

The industry works hard to minimize environmental impact.

It's good that you are thinking ahead in order to, as you say, minimize the fallout.

The government should minimize its role and that too for shorter period at the time of crisis.

It shows that nuclear power can be used for the conversion process to minimize any emission concerns.

Small components and a composite body minimize weight down to maximize efficiency.

They are also used as way to minimize the expenses involved in interviewing out-of-town candidates.

Plans should be made now to figure these problems out and research should continue on how to minimize the global climate effects.

Sometimes the standard of living is decreased to minimize excessive consumption of a limited resource, such as water.

Non-essential personnel have left to minimize danger to them.

In theory, fine art could be used to minimize volatility in an investor's portfolio.

Minimize distractions if you're at home--put the dogs outside, etc etc.

So in the end it helps to minimize the numbers in criminal statistics.

Then it attempts to maximize the power drawn from the battery pack and minimize use of the gasoline engine.

They do help because they teach you tricks to speed up your response time and minimize the chance of errors.

In my experience, the number one reason to meet face to face is to minimize the us-vs-them mentality that all to easily forms.

It limits group size to minimize environmental impact.

It's up to man to prepare to minimize the bad and maximize the good.

Just keep yourself on bit of a leash and perhaps minimize the hanging out time.

Cutting edge research is looking at how to minimize damage in car and human collisions.

They have located the site on an already disturbed footprint precisely in order to minimize impacts to native habitat.

The best way to minimize compression is to be as unsticky as possible.

COLLAPSE

Collins

World English Dictionary

minimize or minimise (ˈmɪnɪˌmaɪz)

—vb
1.	to reduce to or estimate at the least possible degree or amount: to minimize a risk
2.	to rank or treat at less than the true worth; belittle: to minimize someone's achievements

minimise or minimise

—vb

minimi'zation or minimise

—n

minimi'sation or minimise

—n

'minimizer or minimise

—n

'minimiser or minimise

—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source

Etymonline

Word Origin & History

minimize

1802, first recorded in Bentham; see minimum + -ize.

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Matching Quote

"They [parents] can help the children work out schedules for homework, play, and television that minimize the conflicts involved in what to do first. They can offer moral support and encouragement to persist, to try again, to struggle for understanding and mastery. And they can share a child's pleasure in mastery and accomplishment. But they must not do the job for the children."

-Dorothy H. Cohen

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