1
as in reduces
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
2
as in decreases
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually
our hopes dwindled as the reports of more casualties came in
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of dwindles
In public health terms, elimination means that a disease has become rare enough, and immunity to it widespread enough, that local transmission dwindles quickly if a case or two emerges.
—
Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
But over the years, like every gym membership ever, our use dwindles to the point that paying full price no longer makes sense.
—Jim Wang, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Especially in the heat of summer when the car’s air conditioning stops or dwindles along with the engine.
—David McGrath, Chicago Tribune, 1 Jan. 2026
Gas prices usually fall after summer, as Americans travel less and demand dwindles a little before peaking again during the holidays and producers switch to a different blend that is cheaper to process.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
Holding votes on a Friday typically dwindles the number of members present.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 21 Nov. 2025
That’s typically what the Hornets do to get players who are coming back from injury live reps since practice time dwindles significantly during the NBA regular season.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 18 Nov. 2025
As the season dwindles, the importance of games is magnified.
—Jordan Mendoza, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
During the heart of winter, there are fewer tourists, the weather is cooler, and the number of festivals and big events dwindles.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
Los Angeles Times, 22 Jan. 2026
But over the years, like every gym membership ever, our use dwindles to the point that paying full price no longer makes sense.
—Jim Wang, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Especially in the heat of summer when the car’s air conditioning stops or dwindles along with the engine.
—David McGrath, Chicago Tribune, 1 Jan. 2026
Gas prices usually fall after summer, as Americans travel less and demand dwindles a little before peaking again during the holidays and producers switch to a different blend that is cheaper to process.
—Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2025
Holding votes on a Friday typically dwindles the number of members present.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 21 Nov. 2025
That’s typically what the Hornets do to get players who are coming back from injury live reps since practice time dwindles significantly during the NBA regular season.
—Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 18 Nov. 2025
As the season dwindles, the importance of games is magnified.
—Jordan Mendoza, USA Today, 7 Nov. 2025
During the heart of winter, there are fewer tourists, the weather is cooler, and the number of festivals and big events dwindles.
—Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 5 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dwindles
Verb
-
By leveraging light to enhance oxygen electrochemistry, the approach reduces energy losses and extends device lifetime without relying on precious metals.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Feb. 2026
-
The hostage standoff ultimately reduces both men into victims, revealing where power really lies.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Conductance decreases exponentially as the molecule gets longer, meaning longer molecules carry less current.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Jan. 2026
-
These include older adults (partly because the skin’s ability to synthesize vitamin D decreases with age) and people with certain medical conditions such as celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and other disorders that interfere with the body’s ability to absorb dietary fat.—
Stacey Colino,
Time,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Maybe, too, Giannis gets hurt again in March and his trade value diminishes a bit more.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Critics of this new federal tax scholarship program such as the Chicago Teachers Union, the Illinois Federation of Teachers and other lobbying groups say that this funding program takes money away from public education and diminishes schooling opportunities in favor of private or religious schools.—
Froylan Jimenez,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
At others, the episode tails off; dialogue subsides into silence, as though by default.—
Dan Sheehan,
Literary Hub,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Lahey said normal response to intense emotional stress typically subsides quickly.—
Donna Vickroy,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Mexican long-nosed bats are migrating farther north than ever, expanding into Arizona and New Mexico as drought depletes agave supplies in their traditional habitat.—
Susan Montoya Bryan,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Neglecting to flush orchid salts can result in a crusty residue on the medium, which damages roots and depletes water.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This combination shrinks the outer bark while the inner cambium freezes and expands.—
Tammie Souza,
CBS News,
7 Feb. 2026
-
That’s unusual for this time of year, when inventory typically shrinks.—
Sara B. Hansen,
Denver Post,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Set at the height of the Arab Spring in 2011, the play examines a Middle Eastern Studies department in London thrown into crisis when a young Syrian blogger vanishes without a trace.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
26 Jan. 2026
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Even worse, amid the endless barrage of newness, our tolerance for sitting with work that may surprise or challenge us, confound and move us, weakens—or vanishes entirely.—
Brady Brickner-Wood,
New Yorker,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Using rolling peaks, which measure declines from the most recent market high rather than calendar periods, the S & P 500 has gone 185 days without a 10% drawdown, a stretch that, by itself, does not signal an imminent correction.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
26 Jan. 2026
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Calls for repeal come with leaders of Balboa Park museums and other organizations saying that declines in park visits have ranged from 20% to more than 50% and that overall annual revenue could drop by $20 million to $30 million.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dwindles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dwindles. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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