Diminishes (7) Crossword Clue
Answer: DEDUCTS (7 letters)
The answer to the crossword clue "Diminishes" with 7 letters is "DEDUCTS".Deducts means to subtract or take away an amount from a total. It is often used in contexts such as reducing a sum of money, points, or quantity, like deducting taxes from earnings or deducting points in a game.
Why “Deducts” Fits
The clue asks for a single word (7 letters) meaning “diminishes.” The answer, DEDUCTS, fits perfectly:
- Diminishes: Deducts means to take away, remove, or subtract from a total — an exact match to the idea of lessening or diminishing something.
- Direct match: With seven letters, deducts matches the enumeration precisely.
- Precise meaning: The word refers to the act of decreasing a quantity, especially in a mathematical, financial, or logical sense — reducing an overall amount or value.
The word deducts has strong linguistic and practical roots across logical, mathematical, and financial domains:
- Origin and usage: From Latin deducere (“to lead away”), evolving through Old French déduire and eventually Middle English. The concept of removal or subtraction remains integral through its etymology.
Contexts:
- Finance: “The company deducts tax from every salary.”
- Calculation: “Ten percent was deducted from the price for early payment.”
- General use: “He deducted points for spelling errors.”
Examples:
- “The teacher deducted marks for late submission.”
- “Expense claims are deducted before calculating profit.”
- “Two goals were deducted after a match-fixing scandal.”
In quick crosswords such as “Diminishes (7),” solvers can identify the connection between everyday vocabulary and formal equivalents:
- Definition clue: The sole definition “diminishes” points directly to verbs of reduction or subtraction.
- Word choice: While reduces or lessens might appear possible, deducts specifically captures the active sense of taking something off an original amount — a precise fit for the intent of diminishes.
- Clue type: This is a simple definition-style clue (not cryptic), focusing on vocabulary familiarity and meaning alignment rather than wordplay.
