What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
diminish
Example
The company's profits have diminished over the years. [diminished: past participle]
Example
The impact of the pandemic has diminished the tourism industry. [diminish: verb]
weaken
Example
The storm weakened the structure of the building. [weakened: past tense]
Example
The athlete's injury weakened his performance. [weaken: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Weaken is more commonly used than diminish in everyday language, especially in informal contexts. Diminish is more commonly used in academic or literary contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between diminish and weaken?
Diminish is more formal than weaken, and it is often used in academic or literary contexts. Weaken is more versatile and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
