Choose the correct antonym of “diminish”:

Correct answer: Increase. To diminish is to make smaller, so “increase” is the opposite.

Background: To diminish is to become smaller or less. Its opposites include increase, grow, and expand.

• Decrease: “Decrease” is a synonym of diminish.
• Reduce: “Reduce” is a synonym of diminish.
• Divide: “Divide” is not the opposite of diminish.

Did you know? In economics, “diminishing returns” means each extra unit of effort gives less extra benefit.

Memory trick: Dimin-ish = small-ish; the opposite is increase.