DWINDLE Synonyms: 121 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

dwindle

verb

ˈdwin-dᵊl

Definition of dwindle

as in to reduce

to make smaller in amount, volume, or extent the long winter dwindled our supply of firewood to practically nothing

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to diminish

to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually our hopes dwindled as the reports of more casualties came in

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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 That may matter more now than ever, as many meaningful in-person social interactions are dwindling in the face of digital alternatives. — David H. Rosmarin, Time, 29 Aug. 2026 Scientists know of dwindling populations in parts of Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Malaysia and Myanmar because the shark turns up as fishing bycatch. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026 The nonprofit meanwhile closed another location near uptown amid dwindling participation. — Charlotte Observer, 28 Aug. 2026 Later, monitoring data from the Chinese Ministry of Water Resources showed that the lake had dwindled in size. — Niranjan Shrestha, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for dwindle

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dwindle

Verb

Its movements and squeaks change in response to the person interacting with it, giving caregivers another way to reduce distress and encourage engagement.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
For instance, a creditor might bid $35,000 for a $50,000 SUV, reducing the judgment by that amount, then sell it for $50,000, pocketing $15,000.

— Jay Adkisson, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of reduce

Verb

At least one expert said that some workers could have access to oxygen, but others warned that the chances of finding survivors were diminishing.

— Shristi Kafle, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Violence diminishes its victims, forcing everyone to play a single thankless role.

— Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of diminish

Verb

Though impending rainstorms are likely to make rescue operations more difficult, officials say a previous threat from a lake that had formed on the border between Nepal and Tibet has substantially subsided.

— Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Opinion polls gave the king firm backing to stay on for life, however, and the criticism subsided.

— Terje Solsvik, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of subside

Verb

Iranian weapon stockpiles are also likely being depleted, and citizens are struggling to access basic goods – including food and medicine.

— Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2026
There’s about a half-dozen coordinators who should be high on ADs’ radars, perhaps even more so after a bunch of top Group of 6 head coaches got Power 4 jobs last year, depleting the ranks a bit.

— Bruce Feldman, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of deplete

Verb

Castro was released from a Texas jail last week after a judge declined to order his return to Minnesota.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
As a result of these shifts, in the last year, while the Nifty 50 has declined by more than 2%, the Nifty Midcap 150 index is up 10%, as per LSEG data.

— Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of decline

Verb

On the same day Krebs published his post, the service mysteriously vanished from the dark web, which could make tracking down the people behind the hack more difficult.

— Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 3 Sep. 2026
Jordan may wish to exact revenge, and Eddy may want to find one of the victims who has vanished, but both have to go about their work furtively.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of vanish

Verb

The share of mid-cap companies in that has increased to 20% from 14% while that of 100 large-cap companies has fallen from 78% to 72%, the report showed.

— Priyanka Salve, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
The company says its reactor’s electrical output falls within the range of a high-performance vehicle drivetrain.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of fall

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“Dwindle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dwindle. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of dwindle

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