Meaning & use

abate

verb·Academic

To become less strong or severe, or to cause something to lessen in force or intensity.

See it in a sentence

The storm began to abate as evening approached, letting the ships leave harbor safely.

Doctors gave her medicine to abate the pain while the swelling slowly went down.

A note on using this word

Abate is often used with forces like storms, pain, or noise, and it works both with and without an object.

Words with a similar meaning

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Words with an opposite meaning

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