reduce vs lessen

reduce and lessen both are verbs.

Word	Noun	Adjective	Verb	Adverb
reduce	No	No	Yes	No
lessen	No	No	Yes	No

As verbs, lessen is a hypernym of reduce; that is, lessen is a word with a broader meaning than reduce:

Other hypernyms of reduce include decrease, minify.

As verbs, lessen is a hypernym of reduce; that is, lessen is a word with a broader meaning than reduce:

Other hypernyms of reduce include decrease, minify.

As verbs, lessen is a hypernym of reduce; that is, lessen is a word with a broader meaning than reduce:

Other hypernyms of reduce include decrease, minify.

As verbs, lessen is a hypernym of reduce; that is, lessen is a word with a broader meaning than reduce:

Other hypernyms of reduce include decrease, minify.

As verbs, lessen is a hypernym of reduce; that is, lessen is a word with a broader meaning than reduce:

Other hypernyms of reduce include decrease, diminish, fall.

reduce (verb)	lessen (verb)
take off weight	decrease in size, extent, or range
cut down on; make a reduction in	wear off or die down
narrow or limit	make become smaller
cook until very little liquid is left
to remove oxygen from a compound, or cause to react with hydrogen or form a hydride, or to undergo an increase in the number of electrons
make smaller
reduce in size; reduce physically
make less complex
reduce in scope while retaining essential elements
lessen the strength or flavor of a solution or mixture
be cooked until very little liquid is left
be the essential element
destress and thus weaken a sound when pronouncing it
undergo meiosis
reposition (a broken bone after surgery) back to its normal site
lower in grade or rank or force somebody into an undignified situation
lessen and make more modest
simplify the form of a mathematical equation of expression by substituting one term for another
bring to humbler or weaker state or condition
put down by force or intimidation