amenuiser
dwindle · sap · diminish
Definition & meaning
Amenuiser means to make something smaller, thinner, narrower, or less substantial. It often describes a gradual reduction.
It can also be used with se: s’amenuiser means to diminish, dwindle, or become less. This is common when talking about resources, possibilities, or chances.
- Amenuiser une planche — to make a board thinner.
- Les ressources s’amenuisent — resources are dwindling.
Grammar & Word origin
Amenuiser is a regular -er verb, usually used transitively: it takes a direct object, as in amenuiser quelque chose (“to reduce or make something thinner”). Its pronominal form, s’amenuiser, describes something diminishing on its own.
The word is formed from a- and menu, meaning “small” or “thin.” Menu ultimately comes from Latin minutus, “small.”
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms:
- diminuer — “to decrease”; a broad, neutral alternative.
- réduire — “to reduce”; emphasizes lowering an amount, size, or extent.
- amoindrir — “to lessen” or “weaken”; often used for importance, effect, or intensity.
- affiner — “to make finer or thinner”; especially suitable for physical shape or texture.
Antonyms:
- augmenter — “to increase”; the general opposite when referring to quantity or degree.
- épaissir — “to thicken”; the direct opposite when referring to thickness.
- élargir — “to widen”; the opposite when referring to width.
Common phrases & collocations
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Examples
Tes économies s'amenuisent de jour en jour.verb
Your savings are dwindling day by day.
Le manque de sommeil amenuise ses forces.verb
Lack of sleep saps his strength.
Avec le temps, sa colère s'est amenuisée.verb
Over time, his anger diminished.
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