詞彙精選：lessen的用法和辨析
一、詳細釋義：
v.
（使）縮小；（使）減少；（使）減輕
例句：
These measures can't help to lessen the existing tension.
這些措施不能幫助緩和現在的緊張局勢。
例句：
There's nothing I can say to lessen your unhappiness, but you must take care of yourself.
我沒什麼話可以減輕你的悲痛，但你得珍重自己。
二、詞義辨析：
decrease,diminish,lessen,reduce,dwindle
這些協詞的共同含義是“減少，變少”。decrease指逐漸地、不斷地減少。diminish側重大小數量和重要性的不斷減小，強調減小的部分。lessen普通用詞，與decrease近義。指數目、程度、價值、實力等的減少。reduce普通用詞，含義廣。指數量、程度的降低或減少。dwindle與decrease同義，指逐漸減小，但強調變得越來越少終至全無。
三、參考例句：
Regular exercise can help to lessen the pain.
經常運動有助於減輕痛感。
These measures can't help to lessen the existing tension.
這些措施不能幫助緩和現在的緊張局勢。
This medicine can lessen the pain in no time.
這種藥可以立刻減輕痛苦。
However, these inequalities are likely to lessen now.
然而，現在這種不平等可能正在縮小。
When it is on the boil——we lessen the fire and scum.
當湯滾了之後，我們把火減小然後剽除湯裏的浮渣。
The flexibility of a man's muscles will lessen as he becomes old.
人老了肌肉的柔韌性將降低。
Toolbelts free both hands and lessen the risk of dropping hammers.
工具腰帶解放了雙手，還減少了錘子掉落的風險。
It's very important to lessen the distraction and burden from your mind.
這對分散注意力，減輕負擔來說很重要。
There's nothing I can say to lessen your unhappiness, but you must take care of yourself.
我沒什麼話可以減輕你的悲痛，但你得珍重自己。
To lessen the likelihood of being on the receiving end of reactionary insults, make sure to come with alternatives in hand.
爲了減少被罵的狗血淋頭的可能性，一定要有備選方案。
