Dwindling: meaning, definitions and examples

Use this word when something is gradually becoming smaller or less over time, often implying a concern about the reduction.

• The dwindling number of bees is alarming environmentalists
• Their savings were dwindling as the months went by

Use this in both formal and informal settings to talk about a reduction in size, amount, or extent.

• The temperature will decrease after sunset
• There was a decrease in the number of tourists this year

This word is suitable when something is decreasing in quality, importance, or quantity. It often suggests a steady, sometimes inevitable downward trend.

• The company faced a decline in sales over the last quarter
• There has been a noticeable decline in his health

This word works well when talking about something physically getting smaller or when describing a reduction in scope or extent, often in a more tangible sense.

• The sweater will shrink if you wash it in hot water
• The population of the town is beginning to shrink due to economic hardships

Best used when something lessens in intensity, importance or size, sometimes implying that it is being minimized or devalued.

• Her enthusiasm began to diminish after the first week
• The scandal has not diminished his popularity