hi.
I want a single word for this: “make something less important”
What verb can be used instead of this phrase?
Example: To make something worse = compound something
If you mean “make something seem less important” or “to treat as insignificant,” the verb “trivialize” is good.
Such jokes trivialize a legitimate health problem. Please be more thoughtful.
Judging from your use of “compound,” I think you might be after words such as “mitigate,” “attenuate,” and “extenuate.” All three mean “to reduce in severity.”
[i]The testimony served to extenuate her crime. The judge seemed more understanding after learning the circumstances.
Our financial peril has attenuated.
Your volunteer work has mitigated our staffing crisis. Thanks so much.[/i]
You might also try “abate” and “subside.” If you want to be plainer in describing something singular, you can try “decrease.” I stress “singular” because it will appear to indicate quantity rather than degree before plural nouns. There is also “lessen.” Such words are understood to mean “decrease in severity” before anything obviously bad.
Thanks you very much,
If I want to say: Technology has made the parenting role less important.
then which one can be used?
Hi. You should use “trivialize.”
May I ask why you added “compound” to your post? That made me think you were hunting for antonyms.