Synonyms of dwindle

dwindle

verb

ˈdwin-dᵊl 

1

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

• reduce
• decrease
• diminish
• deplete
• lower
• lessen
• ease
• minimize
• abate
• downsize
• dent
• cut
• slash
• drop
• shrink
• knock down
• compress
• shorten
• downscale
• curtail
• constrict
• pare
• de-escalate
• whittle
• retrench
• cut down
• condense
• trim
• truncate
• cut back
• prune
• contract
• abbreviate
• abridge
• deflate
• dock
• nick
• crop
• clip
• modify
• modulate
• moderate
• qualify

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• increase
• expand
• escalate
• enlarge
• augment
• raise
• boost
• amplify
• swell
• extend
• inflate
• prolong
• dilate
• lengthen
• add (to)
• blow up
• elongate
• intensify
• supplement
• complement
• enhance
• aggrandize
• distend
• heighten
• protract
• redouble

2

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

• diminish
• decrease
• subside
• decline
• vanish
• fall
• shrink
• wane
• ease
• recede
• ebb
• lessen
• weaken
• die (away or down or out)
• moderate
• evaporate
• drop (off)
• fall away
• taper
• relent
• pall
• drain (away)
• abate
• taper off
• lower
• remit
• let up
• phase down
• ratchet (down)
• rachet (down)
• collapse
• de-escalate
• fade (away)
• constrict
• compress
• slacken
• slow (down)
• condense
• tail (off)
• alleviate
• melt (away)
• contract
• relax
• peter (out)
• give out
• fritter (away)
• sink
• deflate
• cave (in)
• flag

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• increase
• grow
• rise
• expand
• intensify
• build
• accumulate
• soar
• escalate
• swell
• enlarge
• appear
• emerge
• mount
• snowball
• pick up
• wax
• burgeon
• mushroom
• balloon
• show up
• lengthen
• bourgeon
• elongate
• distend
• blow up

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

Recent Examples of dwindle

Cut to Alex, desperately tending to her dwindling fire while berating God for letting her experience love, only to rip it away from her. —Matt Cabral, EW.com, 6 Apr. 2025

His role has dwindled since Arne Slot took over from Klopp. —Joshua Kloke, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2025

While interest by country has varied over time—applications from India have flattened out, but applications are up from students in China, Ghana and Nigeria—the volume of international applicants hasn’t dwindled, even during the last Trump administration. —Emma Whitford, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025

Musk 'Back in Charge' at Tesla Tesla has faced dwindling stock prices and on Tuesday published its worst quarter numbers in three years on Tuesday. —Lee Habeeb, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Apr. 2025