Decrease and Smother

decrease

A change downward.
- usage: "there was a decrease in his temperature as the fever subsided"; "there was a sharp drop-off in sales"
- synonyms: lessening, drop-off
A process of becoming smaller or shorter.
- synonyms: decrement
The amount by which something decreases.
- synonyms: decrement
The act of decreasing or reducing something.
- synonyms: diminution, reduction, step-down

Decrease in size, extent, or range.
- usage: "The amount of homework decreased towards the end of the semester"; "The cabin pressure fell dramatically"; "her weight fell to under a hundred pounds"; "his voice fell to a whisper"
- synonyms: diminish, lessen, fall
Make smaller.
- usage: "He decreased his staff"
- synonyms: lessen, minify

(v.t.) To cause to grow less; to diminish gradually; as, extravagance decreases one's means.
(v.) A becoming less; gradual diminution; decay; as, a decrease of revenue or of strength.
(n.) To grow less, -- opposed to increase; to be diminished gradually, in size, degree, number, duration, etc. or in strength, quality or excellence; as, they days decrease in length from June to December.
(v.) The wane of the moon.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

smother

A confused multitude of things.
- synonyms: clutter, jumble, muddle, fuddle, mare's nest, welter
A stifling cloud of smoke.

Envelop completely.
- usage: "smother the meat in gravy"
- synonyms: surround
Deprive of oxygen and prevent from breathing.
- usage: "Othello smothered Desdemona with a pillow"; "The child suffocated herself with a plastic bag that the parents had left on the floor"
- synonyms: asphyxiate, suffocate
Conceal or hide.
- usage: "smother a yawn"; "muffle one's anger"; "strangle a yawn"
- synonyms: stifle, strangle, muffle, repress
Form an impenetrable cover over.
- usage: "the butter cream smothered the cake"
Deprive of the oxygen necessary for combustion.
- usage: "smother fires"
- synonyms: put out

(n.) That which smothers or causes a sensation of smothering, as smoke, fog, the foam of the sea, a confused multitude of things.
(v.t.) Stifling smoke; thick dust.
(v.i.) To be suffocated or stifled.
(v.t.) A state of suppression.
(v.i.) To burn slowly, without sufficient air; to smolder.
(v.t.) To affect as by suffocation; to stife; to deprive of air by a thick covering, as of ashes, of smoke or the like; as, to smother a fire.
(v.t.) To destroy the life of by suffocation; to deprive of the air necessary for life; to cover up closely so as to prevent breathing; to suffocate; as, to smother a child.
(v.t.) Hence, to repress the action of; to cover from public view; to suppress; to conceal; as, to smother one's displeasure.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary