What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
dwindling
Example
The population of the endangered species has been dwindling for years. [dwindling: present participle]
Example
The company's profits are dwindling due to increased competition. [dwindling: verb]
decreasing
Example
The number of students in the class is decreasing every year. [decreasing: present participle]
Example
The price of the product is decreasing due to low demand. [decreasing: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Decreasing is more commonly used than dwindling in everyday language. Decreasing is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while dwindling is less common and refers to a more serious or irreversible decline.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between dwindling and decreasing?
Dwindling is more formal than decreasing, which can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
