What Is Another Way to Say “Make Smaller”?

Looking for synonyms for make smaller? We’ve got you covered!

Here’s a list of other ways to say make smaller.

  • Reduce
  • Decrease
  • Downsize
  • Diminish
  • Shrink
  • Minimize
  • Lessen
  • Contract
  • Condense
  • Compress
  • Cut back
  • Downscale
  • Narrow
  • Shorten
  • Scale down
  • Trim
  • Curtail
  • Slim down
  • Pare down
  • Consolidate

Want to learn how to say make smaller professionally? Keep reading for examples and use cases.

1. Reduce

Appropriate Usage: Used when making something smaller or less in amount, degree, or size.
Example: The company decided to reduce expenses to improve its financial health.

2. Decrease

Appropriate Usage: Refers to making something smaller in size, amount, number, or extent.
Example: A strategic plan was implemented to decrease the time to market for new products.

3. Downsize

Appropriate Usage: Suitable for describing a reduction in the size or scale of something, often in a corporate context.
Example: The corporation had to downsize its workforce due to the economic downturn.

4. Diminish

Appropriate Usage: Describes making or becoming less.
Example: The company’s market share has diminished significantly over the past year.

5. Shrink

Appropriate Usage: Used when something becomes or is made smaller in size.
Example: The tech industry has seen a shrink in investment capital this quarter.

6. Minimize

Appropriate Usage: Refers to reducing something, especially something undesirable, to the smallest possible amount or degree.
Example: The project manager aimed to minimize risks associated with the project.

7. Lessen

Appropriate Usage: Suitable for making something less intense or severe.
Example: The firm’s new strategies are designed to lessen their environmental impact.

8. Contract

Appropriate Usage: Describes becoming smaller or shorter.
Example: The company had to contract its operations in several underperforming regions.

9. Condense

Appropriate Usage: Used when something is made denser or more concentrated.
Example: The report was condensed to present only the most critical findings.

10. Compress

Appropriate Usage: Refers to pressing or squeezing something to make it smaller.
Example: Data needs to be compressed to optimize storage usage.

11. Cut Back

Appropriate Usage: Suitable for reducing the amount or number of something.
Example: The department had to cut back on its budget for the upcoming fiscal year.

12. Downscale

Appropriate Usage: Describes reducing in size, scope, or extent.
Example: The company downscaled its international operations to focus on the domestic market.

13. Narrow

Appropriate Usage: Used when something becomes more limited in extent or scope.
Example: The research was narrowed to focus on a more specific demographic.

14. Shorten

Appropriate Usage: Refers to making something smaller in length or duration.
Example: The meeting was shortened to accommodate other urgent discussions.

15. Scale Down

Appropriate Usage: Suitable for reducing in size or extent, often in a planned and gradual way.
Example: The manufacturer decided to scale down production in response to decreased demand.

16. Trim

Appropriate Usage: Describes cutting off parts to make something tidier or more fitted.
Example: The budget for the project was trimmed to remove unnecessary expenditures.

17. Curtail

Appropriate Usage: Used when something is reduced in extent or quantity.
Example: Travel expenses were curtailed due to the new company-wide cost-saving measures.

18. Slim Down

Appropriate Usage: Refers to making something smaller in size or amount, often in a way that suggests efficiency.
Example: The new CEO’s first action was to slim down the organizational structure.

19. Pare Down

Appropriate Usage: Suitable for reducing something in size by cutting or trimming it.
Example: The team had to pare down the project scope to meet the deadline.

20. Consolidate

Appropriate Usage: Describes combining things into a single, more effective or coherent whole, often resulting in a reduction of size.
Example: The company consolidated its regional offices to reduce operational costs.

Linda Brown