Yet somehow his absence did not diminish his presence.

Yet their near absence diminishes the complexity of this account.

Allen Johnson, the world indoor champion, withdrew because of a leg cramp, but his absence didn't diminish Kingdom's performance.

Those absences will not diminish the importance of Saturday's battle for first place between Philadelphia and visiting Carolina, which has won five straight games.

And its absence diminishes the work.

The absence of New South Wales, the largest colony, also diminished its representative value.

Mr. Lemelson died last fall, but inventor groups say that his absence will not diminish the opposition to the patent bill.

The absence of stress does not diminish his capacity for self-worship.

As anyone who has run a household, even an intact household, knows, the absence of the child for periods may diminish food costs slightly.

I agree with @torinesl that their absence doesn't diminish the story, but their presence does change the book.