schmälern
Translation
to diminish, to reduce, to lessen, to detract from
Examples
Das schmälert seine Leistung nicht.
That doesn't diminish his achievement.
Die Kritik schmälerte seine Freude.
The criticism lessened his joy.
Grammar Patterns
((sth.)) to diminish sth. That diminishes the value of the house.
Similar Words
Synonyms: verringern, reduzieren (to reduce); Antonyms: vergrößern, steigern (to increase)
Etymology
Derived from the adjective 'schmal' (narrow), meaning 'to make narrow' or 'to make smaller'.
Memory Tips
Think of making something 'schmal' (narrow), which diminishes its size or importance.