How to Use less in a Sentence

less

1 of 2 adjective
Definition of lessnext
Synonyms for lessnext
  • We need less talk and more work!
  • We made it there in less than six hours.
  • The whole procedure takes less than five minutes.
  • She finished in less time than I did.
  • The illness affects less than one percent of the population.
  • Less detail is sometimes better than more detail.
  • The court is less than half the size of a tennis court.
    — Phil Diehl, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 May 2023
  • Both charges are felonies as the suspect was less than 21.
    — cleveland, 2 Sep. 2023
  • This sale will only last for the month of May, though—and even less time for flash sale items.
    — Samantha Jones, countryliving.com, 17 May 2023
  • Rather than more speech, the result will be worse speech, less speech, or even no speech.
    — Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 30 Oct. 2023
  • This is a lot of yield in a sector that, sadly, pays less than 1% at large...
    — Brett Owens, Forbes, 17 July 2023
  • The number of people being laid off is said to be less than 10.
    — Joe Otterson, Variety, 6 Oct. 2023
  • And the presumption is that tall shortstops have less range.
    — Evan Grant, Dallas News, 29 May 2023
  • In one part of Long Island in New York, 5 inches of rain fell in less than two hours.
    — Claire Moses, BostonGlobe.com, 17 July 2023
  • As a result, people taking the drug feel full longer and eat less.
    — WIRED, 11 Nov. 2023
  • The pic is falling off 39 percent or less, a strong hold for a film that many had written off.
    — Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 June 2023
  • Then one button stows the roof under a hatch at the rear of the cockpit in just 12 seconds, less than half the time of the next-best Mercedes.
    — Patrick Bedard, Car and Driver, 19 Aug. 2023
  • My kids constantly chase it around the house laughing, and the $150 price tag costs less than a day of daycare for them.
    — Li Goldstein, Bon Appétit, 10 Nov. 2023
  • Each of these Amazon picks is less than $30, and droves of birds will be fighting over your feeders in no time.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Southern Living, 27 Mar. 2024
  • For 12 days, we were marooned at home — with out-of-town company, no less.
    — Hollace Ava Weiner, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Jan. 2024
  • Just imagine a world where the journey from Los Angeles to Tokyo takes less than two hours.
    — Sassie Duggleby, Fortune, 15 Mar. 2024
  • Cars that cost less than that attract an import duty of 60%.
    — Niharika Sharma, Quartz, 17 May 2023
  • Or for even less of a lift, nab a iRobot Roomba robotic vacuum and mop for a full $200 off.
    — Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 23 Nov. 2023
  • The shoot took about six hours, including rush-hour traffic; less than two minutes of the footage would be used in the final cut.
    — Andrew Marantz, The New Yorker, 17 July 2023
  • With more speed than most and less power than almost anybody, turn ‘em loose.
    — Paul Hoynes, cleveland, 19 Aug. 2023
  • Be sure to center soft browns and pinks pulled from a palette that suits your complexion—and when in doubt, less is more.
    — Calin Van Paris, Vogue, 6 Oct. 2023
  • This means that with every stroke of the cheese against the stainless steel grater more food is grated, which means less time and effort on your part.
    — Belle Duchene, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Feb. 2024
  • The call came from 1280 Monument Road, less than a mile from Mexico.
    — Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2024
  • The tank is so large that, as it was lowered, there was less than an inch of space between it and the solid rocket boosters.
    — Rong-Gong Lin Ii, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2024
  • The results have been less than impressive, but more is coming.
    — Anita Chabria, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2024
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less

2 of 2 adverb
  • Which test is the less difficult of the two?
  • This test seemed much less difficult than the last one.
  • She visits much less often than she used to.
  • Their band is less concerned with making music than with making money.
  • Do you have another one that's less expensive?
  • They're focusing more on quality and less on quantity.
  • The bill in New York could make that picture a bit less grim.
    — Kate Aronoff, The New Republic, 9 June 2023
  • The buyers are less willing to take risks than prior to the strike.
    — Wendy Lee, Los Angeles Times, 20 Feb. 2024
  • And where air can flow, things such as shirts and trousers are less likely to stick to the body and sop with sweat.
    — Todd Plummer, Robb Report, 31 May 2023
  • Use mulch to keep the ground moist and less attractive to egg-laying adults.
    — oregonlive, 10 June 2023
  • All are renowned in the business, but some are less well known to the general public.
    — Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 14 Jan. 2024
  • The illness' past hallmarks, such as a dry cough or the loss of sense of taste or smell, have become less common.
    — Aria Bendix, NBC News, 16 Sep. 2023
  • More adults are getting news from less varnished sources.
    — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 28 Mar. 2024
  • Now that fans and players have gotten used to that, the season should be a bit less disruptive.
    — Chris Morris, Fortune, 28 Mar. 2024
  • Investment is low, and that means less good, quality jobs in the rest of the economy.
    — Morgan Meaker, WIRED, 9 Apr. 2024
  • Gomez — dressed in a chic white shirt and jeans — pretended to take a bite of the buttery treat, while Gracie looked less impressed.
    — Jenny Haward, Peoplemag, 23 June 2023
  • Share [Findings] Men who pose for photos with cats are seen as less datable.
    — Ben Lerner, Harper's Magazine, 3 Jan. 2024
  • Plastic bottles tend to be lighter in weight and less expensive.
    — Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 6 Oct. 2023
  • Martínez’s second appearance at the Met Gala is far less nerve-wracking than his first.
    — Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 21 June 2023
  • What to Consider The backpack is on the longer side, so may be less comfortable for shorter users.
    — Taylor Fox, Travel + Leisure, 15 Sep. 2023
  • For a less expensive style, this CureCure pick is the best heated blanket for your home.
    — Erica Reagle, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 June 2023
  • The goal is for builders to work with city planners to site their homes, pools and garages in a way that is less harmful to the environment and animals.
    — Dakota Smith, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2023
  • Often heavier poles are sturdier and less likely to bend and/or break.
    — Lindsey Lapointe, Field & Stream, 4 Jan. 2024
  • His mother couldn’t pay the bills, lost her apartment, moved to less expensive apartments but couldn’t afford the rent in those.
    — Diane Bell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 June 2023
  • And the location of the crash — on a flat airport runway — meant that the aircraft was less likely to break up and cause further injuries or deaths.
    — Naomi Schanen, Washington Post, 3 Jan. 2024
  • The crewneck sweatshirt is bound to feel less bulky than a hoodie, complete with ribbed hems and fabric that keeps moisture at bay.
    — Alyssa Grabinski, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024
  • Just because some parts of a family feel less healthy, doesn’t mean the whole family is unhealthy.
    — Sahaj Kaur Kohli, Washington Post, 23 Nov. 2023
  • At least so far, consequences in other states and school districts have been less severe.
    — Zachary Schermele, USA TODAY, 28 Mar. 2024
  • Sticky traps are often less expensive than other kinds of traps.
    — Rachel Ahrnsen, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 Oct. 2023
  • This is the quieter of the two types but less effective at separating smaller clumps.
    — Katherine Alex Beaven, Peoplemag, 10 Nov. 2023

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'less.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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