[Vocabulary] Reduce vs Diminish

[kindlearch]

Hi Teachers,


I am not a native English speaker. I've been thinking about this for quite long time but I haven't got the clear answer.


I am trying to figure out how to use the word 'reduce,' 'diminish,' 'decrease,' and 'lessen.' Are they completely interchangable in any context? Do they have different nuances? I've tried to find the words used in sentences.


You can reduce much of the need for air conditioning.
You can diminish much of the need for air conditioning.
You can decrease much of the need for air conditioning.
You can lessen much of the need for air conditioning.


Found from here: http://learn.eartheasy.com/2009/03/global-warming-climate-change-what-we-can-do-about-it/


Here I think it works. Can I regard their menaing as identical?


But to produce beyond his strength and needs, he must invade the production of another, and consequently diminish the number of producers.


Found from here: http://www.fatlingo.com/use-in-a-sentence/?word=diminish


Would you please help me?

 

[bhaisahab]

Concerning the sentences about air conditioning, only the one with reduce works for me. I find all the others unnatural.
I find the fifth sentence unnatural, especially with "diminish".

 

[emsr2d2]

The first is OK. With the others it would be more natural to change the word order:

The need for air conditioning will diminish.
The need for air conditioning will decrease.
The need for air conditioning will be less/lower. (I don't really like this one!)