Definition
- C2
to cause someone to feel demoralized or to be placed in an undesirable state or condition
Losing his job reduced him to such despair that he almost broke down.
The continuous failures reduced her confidence to its lowest point.
His criticisms reduced him to a state of confusion.
- C2
When you are compelled to do something without any alternatives, you are said to be reduced to doing it.
She was reduced to taking a job she disliked because she was short on cash.
During the legal proceedings, he was reduced to apologizing, which left him feeling very helpless.
Faced with family pressure, he was reduced to making compromises, which left him quite distressed.