diminished

Diminished is an adjective that means made or having become smaller, fewer, or less.

Close synonyms are reduced, decreased, and lessened. A diminished interest is one that has lessened. Diminished quality means decreased quality. In law, the term diminished responsibility is used in the context of pleas that admit wrongdoing but argue that the responsibility for it is reduced due to some form of mental impairment.

It comes from the past tense of the verb diminish, which most generally means to make or become smaller, fewer, or less. It can also mean to make something less significant or seem less significant.

Diminished is also used in more specific ways in the context of music.

Example: My diminished interest in sports is mostly due to my increased passion for other hobbies.

The word diminished has been used as an adjective since at least the 1400s. The verb diminish comes from a blend of the Anglo-French-derived term diminuen, meaning “to lessen” (from Latin verb dēminuere, “to make smaller”), and the archaic word minish, which means the same thing as diminish.

When used as an adjective, diminished often (though not always) implies that something has been reduced in a way that makes it worse. For example, a diminished role is a position that has been reduced in authority or responsibility in some way. A diminished reputation is one that has suffered in some way—meaning that people now think less of the person.

What are some other forms related to diminished?

• diminish

What are some synonyms for diminished?

• reduced
• decreased
• lessened

What are some words that share a root or word element with diminished? 

• diminished responsibility
• diminishing returns
• minish
• diminutive

What are some words that often get used in discussing diminished?

• responsibility
• interest
• role
• quality
• reputation
• return
• supply
• reputation

Diminished is often (but not always) used in a negative way to imply that something has gotten worse.

I'm beginning to think that keeping Derek Roy in a diminished role in a contract year might not be a bad thing. #Sabres

— Kyle Shoemaker (@_Shoey) June 23, 2012

Burnout => diminished interest in work => reduced performance => reduced enterprise success. #Burnout = under-recognized drag on corporate #success. https://t.co/M5e6jK5Ou5

— David Youmans, MD ✭ (@DaveYoumansMD) December 14, 2017

We have lost our moral standing in the world, the example of what right looks like for equality and human rights. No amount of good economy money can buy back the country’s diminished reputation. We’ve lost diplomatic footing.

— Cooter Blue (Loser/Sucker) (@CooterBlue) March 31, 2019

Which of the following words is NOT a synonym of diminished?

A. lessened
B. enlarged
C. decreased
D. reduced