dwindle

[ dwin-dl ]

verb (used without object)

, dwin·dled, dwin·dling.

1. to become smaller and smaller; shrink; waste away:

   His vast fortune has dwindled away.

   Synonyms: wane, lessen, decline, diminish

   Antonyms: increase

2. to fall away, as in quality; degenerate.

verb (used with object)

, dwin·dled, dwin·dling.

1. to make smaller and smaller; cause to shrink:

   Failing health dwindles ambition.

   Synonyms: lessen

   Antonyms: magnify

dwindle

/ ˈdwɪndəl /

verb

1. to grow or cause to grow less in size, intensity, or number; diminish or shrink gradually

Other Words From

• un·dwindling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dwindle¹

1590–1600; dwine (now dial.) to waste away ( Middle English; Old English dwīnan; cognate with Middle Dutch dwīnen to languish, Old Norse dvīna to pine away) + -le

Word History and Origins

Origin of dwindle¹

C16: from Old English dwīnan to waste away; related to Old Norse dvīna to pine away

Synonym Study

See decrease.

Example Sentences

While public interest in Ebola continues to dwindle, the epidemic itself continues to soar.

From The Daily Beast

As the holidays approach, Hohlfelder worries that concern will further dwindle.

From The Daily Beast

For most of us, whether or not Nico is missing or dead would seem irrelevant as the days left dwindle.

From The Daily Beast

If the money starts to dwindle, then Snyder will do something.

From The Daily Beast

Terror continues to win as our civil liberties continue to dwindle.

From The Daily Beast

With either Mr. Shepard or Mr. Low elected, Tammany would dwindle—as one now beholds it—to be a third-rate influence.

From Project Gutenberg

The excessive military spirit of the inhabitants had begun to dwindle, as England's interest required.

From Project Gutenberg

The island glided further and further away from the cliffs, and he watched the waterfall dwindle away to a streak and disappear.

From Project Gutenberg

Some of these dwindle away soon enough—or perhaps not quite soon enough; some of them increase and become permanent and beautiful.

From Project Gutenberg

This original may dwindle by circumstances, so as to become not a purpose of the second or even the third magnitude.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• abate
• decay
• decline
• decrease
• die down
• diminish
• drop
• ebb
• fade
• fall
• lessen
• peter out
• shrink
• shrivel
• sink
• subside
• wane
• weaken
• wither