Definitions and Examples of minimize, reduce, decrease
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
To reduce something to the smallest possible amount or degree.
Example
The company tried to minimize its expenses by cutting down on unnecessary costs.
To make something smaller in size, amount, or degree.
Example
The government decided to reduce taxes to stimulate economic growth.
To become or make something smaller in size, amount, or degree.
Example
The number of COVID-19 cases started to decrease after the vaccination campaign.
Key Differences: minimize vs reduce vs decrease
- 1Minimize implies reducing something to the smallest possible amount or degree.
- 2Reduce means making something smaller in size, amount, or degree.
- 3Decrease is a general term that describes something becoming smaller in size, amount, or degree.
Effective Usage of minimize, reduce, decrease
- 1Business: Use minimize and reduce to describe cost-cutting measures.
- 2Environment: Use reduce and decrease to describe efforts to reduce carbon emissions.
- 3Health: Use decrease to describe a reduction in the number of cases or deaths due to a disease.
Remember this!
The antonyms of maximising are minimize, reduce, and decrease. These words convey the opposite meaning of maximising which is to make something as large or great as possible. Use these words in different contexts such as business, environment, and health to describe cost-cutting measures, efforts to reduce carbon emissions, and a reduction in the number of cases or deaths due to a disease.
