dwindle

verb

dwin·​dle ˈdwin-dᵊl How to pronounce dwindle (audio)
dwindled; dwindling ˈdwin-(d)liŋ How to pronounce dwindle (audio)
-dᵊl-iŋ

intransitive verb

: to become steadily less : shrink
Their savings dwindled to nothing.
a dwindling population

transitive verb

: to make steadily less
Choose the Right Synonym for dwindle

decrease, lessen, diminish, reduce, abate, dwindle mean to grow or make less.

decrease suggests a progressive decline in size, amount, numbers, or intensity.

slowly decreased the amount of pressure

lessen suggests a decline in amount rather than in number.

has been unable to lessen her debt

diminish emphasizes a perceptible loss and implies its subtraction from a total.

his visual acuity has diminished

reduce implies a bringing down or lowering.

you must reduce your caloric intake

abate implies a reducing of something excessive or oppressive in force or amount.

the storm abated

dwindle implies progressive lessening and is applied to things growing visibly smaller.

their provisions dwindled slowly

Examples of dwindle in a Sentence

Our energy dwindled as the meeting dragged on. The town's population is dwindling away.
Recent Examples on the Web Freeform’s scripted roster has dwindled in the past two years. Lesley Goldberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Mar. 2024 Aid deliveries have dwindled since Israel launched its ground offensive in Gaza, leaving many in the already impoverished enclave on the brink of starvation. Jeremy Diamond, CNN, 1 Mar. 2024 With the challenges posed to unsigned bands, combined with dwindling club scenes and the younger generation’s affinity for technology, the library, as one of the more tech-forward and free-to-use spaces available, becomes a natural gathering point. Lily Moayeri, SPIN, 28 Feb. 2024 With a series of departures last spring and summer, however, membership on the commission had dwindled to just four people. Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Feb. 2024 The Wall Street Journal, which first reported SRS’s dwindling fortunes, notes that there are two big drags on Avis. Melvin Backman, Quartz, 26 Feb. 2024 Phillips quickly noticed that attendance had dwindled. Marisa Iati, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024 Fewer people have landlines The number of households nationwide with landlines is dwindling. USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2024 News Peg The number of pandas living in U.S. zoos has dwindled over the past few years amid growing tensions between Beijing and Washington. Siladitya Ray, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'dwindle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

probably frequentative of dwine to waste away, from Middle English, from Old English dwīnan; akin to Old Norse dvīna to pine away, deyja to die — more at die

First Known Use

1596, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of dwindle was in 1596

Dictionary Entries Near dwindle

Cite this Entry

“Dwindle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dwindle. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

dwindle

verb
dwin·​dle ˈdwin-dᵊl How to pronounce dwindle (audio)
dwindled; dwindling ˈdwin-dliŋ How to pronounce dwindle (audio)
-dᵊliŋ
: to make or become less

More from Merriam-Webster on dwindle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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