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The Oxford Thesaurus An A-Z Dictionary of Synonyms INTRO ...

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--v. 2 lure, entrap, entice, attract, induce, seduce, bait,<br />

trick, tempt, ensnare, inveigle, allure: He was decoyed into a<br />

dark alley and robbed.<br />

decrease v. 1 diminish, reduce, decline, lessen, lower, abate, fall <strong>of</strong>f,<br />

shrink, shrivel (up), contract, dwindle, ebb, subside, wane,<br />

taper <strong>of</strong>f, de-escalate, slacken, let up, ease (<strong>of</strong>f or up),<br />

curtail, cut (down or back), Colloq run out <strong>of</strong> steam, US run out<br />

<strong>of</strong> gas: Demand for tickets to rock concerts has decreased over<br />

the years. <strong>The</strong> number <strong>of</strong> applicants for work is decreasing.<br />

--n. 2 diminution, reduction, decline, lessening, lowering,<br />

abatement, falling <strong>of</strong>f, shrinking, shrivelling, contraction,<br />

decrement, dwindling, ebb, subsidence, tapering <strong>of</strong>f, wane,<br />

de-escalation, slackening, easing (<strong>of</strong>f or up), curtailment, cut,<br />

cut-back: <strong>The</strong>re has been no noticeable decrease in the price <strong>of</strong><br />

houses in the south-east. Have you noticed the decrease in<br />

arrests for dangerous driving?<br />

decree n. 1 order, mandate, directive, ordinance, edict, law, statute,<br />

regulation, enactment, act, ruling, dictum, dictate, injunction,<br />

sanction, manifesto, proclamation, promulgation, determination,<br />

decision, judgement, rescript, prescription, pronunciamento,<br />

firman, ukase, Rom Cath Ch decretal: <strong>The</strong> star chamber issued a<br />

decree restricting the freedom <strong>of</strong> the press.<br />

--v. 2 order, command, direct, rule, mandate, ordain, dictate,<br />

charge, enjoin, proclaim, pronounce, prescribe, decide,<br />

determine, adjudge, Scots law decern: <strong>The</strong> council has decreed<br />

that no spirits can be sold on Sundays.<br />

decrepit adj. 1 feeble, enfeebled, weak, weakened, frail, infirm,<br />

wasted, worn out, unfit, debilitated, enervated, disabled,<br />

incapacitated, crippled, doddering; out <strong>of</strong> shape, in bad shape;<br />

aged, old, elderly, ancient, superannuated, senescent, senile,<br />

Colloq gaga: <strong>The</strong> old man was so decrepit he was unable to lift<br />

the cup to his lips. 2 dilapidated, deteriorated, crumbling,<br />

decayed, decaying, withered, wasted, antiquated, tumbledown,<br />

broken-down, rickety, unstable, shaky, ramshackle, derelict,<br />

creaking, creaky, run-down: <strong>The</strong> barn was so decrepit we had to<br />

tear it down.

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