Definition of dwindlenext
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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb dwindle differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of dwindle are abate, decrease, diminish, lessen, and reduce. While all these words mean "to grow or make less," dwindle implies progressive lessening and is applied to things growing visibly smaller.

their provisions dwindled slowly

Where would abate be a reasonable alternative to dwindle?

While the synonyms abate and dwindle are close in meaning, abate implies a reducing of something excessive or oppressive in force or amount.

the storm abated

When could decrease be used to replace dwindle?

Although the words decrease and dwindle have much in common, decrease suggests a progressive decline in size, amount, numbers, or intensity.

slowly decreased the amount of pressure

When is diminish a more appropriate choice than dwindle?

The synonyms diminish and dwindle are sometimes interchangeable, but diminish emphasizes a perceptible loss and implies its subtraction from a total.

his visual acuity has diminished

When can lessen be used instead of dwindle?

In some situations, the words lessen and dwindle are roughly equivalent. However, lessen suggests a decline in amount rather than in number.

has been unable to lessen her debt

When might reduce be a better fit than dwindle?

The words reduce and dwindle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, reduce implies a bringing down or lowering.

you must reduce your caloric intake

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of dwindle This week’s earthquakes will test Rodriguez’s dwindling promise of economic prosperity and stability for Venezuela. Helen Regan, CNN Money, 26 June 2026 The clock is ticking, again, and their resources and equilibrium have dwindled, again. Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 26 June 2026 There’s an acceptance that a lack of pace and threat on the wings cost Liverpool dear last season, with Salah’s output dwindling and Cody Gakpo struggling for form. James Pearce, New York Times, 26 June 2026 The species once dwindled to about 50 birds nationwide, but today, the population has grown to more than 500. Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for dwindle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dwindle
Verb
  • New flyover ramps connecting to I-95 would also be built, while sound barriers would be installed along both sides of the corridor to help reduce traffic noise for nearby residents.
    Joan Murray, CBS News, 23 June 2026
  • The rich treatment balances strengthening plant proteins with nourishing rosehip and sweet almond oils to reduce breakage and replenish moisture.
    Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Historically, after that period, the chances of survival without a water source diminish rapidly.
    Anabella González, CNN Money, 29 June 2026
  • Prolonged exposure to heat can lead to insufficient or poor sleep, compromising the immune system, increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease and diminishing cognitive performance.
    Adriana Pérez, Chicago Tribune, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • This significantly minimizes cybersecurity risks by decreasing the number of outside players that may have access to the data through cloud or hardware infrastructure.
    Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026
  • As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 27 June 2026
Verb
  • Without tick bites, red meat, or dairy to incite it, the immune response will subside eventually.
    Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
  • A little light headedness was the only immediate side effect for a first-timer, but that quickly subsided.
    Tom Bogert, New York Times, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • The researchers observed an unchallenged system—fibroblasts were depleted, but the skin was never additionally stressed.
    Peter Jurich, Hartford Courant, 22 June 2026
  • During one trip home from the doctor, his wife had a seizure that depleted her portable oxygen tank.
    Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 21 June 2026
Verb
  • After years of declining sales, American Girl dolls are seeing a resurgence.
    Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • In May, during a tense commission meeting, a majority of commissioners declined to give her a raise after her first year on the job.
    Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • First-time homebuyers are a vanishing breed First-time buyers represented only 21% of all home purchasers in 2025, a record low, according to the National Association of Realtors.
    Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Perhaps that last claim feels overblown, but movies indisputably falsify reality, presenting a world that seems hypervivid for a few hours but vanishes when the lights come up.
    Michael O’Donnell, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • The woman fell about 1,500 vertical feet, from around 12,000 feet to about 11,500 feet.
    Daniel S. Levine, PEOPLE, 2 July 2026
  • The report will also provide insight into whether American workers’ paychecks are falling further behind inflation.
    Rachel Barber, USA Today, 2 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Dwindle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dwindle. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.

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