1.
You use ~ in order to indicate that something is smaller in extent, degree, or amount than another thing that has been mentioned.
No medication works in isolation but is affected to a greater or ~ extent by many other factors...
The more obvious potential allies are Ireland, Denmark and, to a ~ degree, the Netherlands.
ADJ: ADJ n, the ADJ of n
•
Lesser is also an adverb.
...~ known works by famous artists.
ADV: ADV -ed
2.
You can use ~ to refer to something or someone that is less important than other things or people of the same type.
They pleaded guilty to ~ charges of criminal damage...
He was feared by other, ~, men.
ADJ: ADJ n, the ADJ of n
3.
the ~ of two evils: see evil