Library / English Dictionary

MINIMIZE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make small or insignificant

Example:

Let's minimize the risk

Synonyms:

minimise; minimize

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "minimize" is one way to...):

decrease; lessen; minify (make smaller)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "minimize"):

hedge (minimize loss or risk)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Antonym:

maximize (make as big or large as possible)

Derivation:

minimization (the act of reducing something to the least possible amount or degree or position)

minimum (the smallest possible quantity)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Represent as less significant or important

Synonyms:

downplay; minimise; minimize; understate

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "minimize" is one way to...):

inform (impart knowledge of some fact, state of affairs, or event to)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "minimize"):

trivialise; trivialize (make trivial or insignificant)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

minimization (the act of reducing something to the least possible amount or degree or position)

minimum (the smallest possible quantity)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Cause to seem less serious; play down

Example:

Don't belittle his influence

Synonyms:

belittle; denigrate; derogate; minimize

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "minimize" is one way to...):

belittle; disparage; pick at (express a negative opinion of)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "minimize"):

talk down (belittle through talk)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

minimization (the act of reducing something to the least possible amount or degree or position)

minimum (the smallest possible quantity)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Currently, the only way to minimize stroke-induced cell death is to remove the clot as soon as possible.

(Hibernating ground squirrels provide clues to new stroke treatments, National Institutes of Health)

I will not minimize the significance of this decision—it is a big one.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Most people have had the experience of wanting to minimize the hurt of the person they are rejecting.

(Sometimes You Shouldn't Say Sorry, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

The findings provide useful information for couples who are planning a pregnancy and who would like to minimize their risk for early pregnancy loss.

(Couples’ pre-pregnancy caffeine consumption linked to miscarriage risk, NIH)

Shifting from one opiate to another to maintain effectiveness in analgesia while minimizing the side-effect profile.

(Opioid Rotation, NCI Thesaurus)

The drugs mechlorethamine and vincristine from the MOPP regimen have been replaced with chlorambucil and vinblastine to minimize gonadal and neurological toxicity, respectively.

(chlVPP Regimen, NCI Thesaurus)

By selectively targeting these isoforms, PI3K signaling in normal, non-neoplastic cells is minimally impacted or not affected at all, which minimizes the side effect profile for this agent.

(PI3K Delta/Gamma Inhibitor RP6530, NCI Thesaurus)

Cationic liposome encapsulation of paclitaxel allows the delivery of high doses of paclitaxel to target tissues while minimizing systemic toxicity.

(Cationic Liposome-Encapsulated Paclitaxel, NCI Thesaurus)

They act by a variety of mechanisms, but often directly or indirectly minimize the damage produced by endogenous excitatory amino acids.

(Neuroprotective Agent, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

Compared to systemic administration of BCNU alone, this local SR formulation is able to maintain higher drug concentrations locally over a longer period of time while minimizing exposure to other tissues.

(Carmustine Sustained-Release Implant Wafer, NCI Thesaurus)