# maximize vs minimize

> English confusable word pair

## The two words

### maximize
*verb · IPA /ˈmæksəmaɪz/ · frequency rank #12,461*
To make as large as possible.

### minimize
*verb · IPA /ˈmɪn.ɪ.maɪz/ · frequency rank #9,635*
To make (something) smaller or as small as possible; shrink; reduce.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/vs/maximize-vs-minimize