What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
declined
Example
The company's profits have declined over the past year. [declined: verb]
Example
I declined the invitation to the party since I had other plans. [declined: past tense]
Example
The road declined steeply towards the valley. [declined: adjective]
diminish
Example
The effectiveness of the medicine diminishes over time. [diminishes: verb]
Example
The importance of his role in the company has diminished since he retired. [diminished: past participle]
Example
The sound of the music gradually diminished as we walked away from the concert. [diminished: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Declined is more common than diminish in everyday language, especially in business or financial contexts. Diminish is less common but can be used in various formal and informal contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between declined and diminish?
Both declined and diminish can be used in formal and informal contexts, but declined is more versatile and can be used in a wider range of situations, including polite refusals or invitations.
