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View synonyms for dwindle

dwindle

[ dwin-dl ]

verb (used without object)

dwindled, dwindling.
  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)

dwindled, dwindling.
  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
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Words From

  • un·dwindling adjective
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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
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Word History and Origins

Origin of dwindle1

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

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Example Sentences

At the southern border, for instance, illegal crossings have dwindled, just as Trump promised — though not to their lowest level ever, as Trump claimed Tuesday.

The race was at one time worth $1 million but has dwindled in recent years turning the Big ‘Cap into more of a Little ‘Cap.

Alternatively, gulls may be relying on human leftovers for much of the year as the natural food supply dwindles.

From BBC

But even that won’t be enough to fully replenish the department’s 82-bus fleet, which had dwindled to roughly two dozen operable buses by the end of last year.

Any faith she still held that police would help quickly dwindled.

From BBC

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