What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
vanishing
Example
The sun was vanishing behind the mountains, casting a beautiful orange glow. [vanishing: verb]
Example
The population of the endangered species is vanishing at an alarming rate. [vanishing: present participle]
diminishing
Example
The company's profits have been diminishing over the past few years. [diminishing: present participle]
Example
The effects of the medication are diminishing with each dose. [diminishing: present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Diminishing is more commonly used than vanishing in everyday language. Diminishing is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while vanishing is less common and refers to a more specific type of reduction or disappearance.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between vanishing and diminishing?
Both vanishing and diminishing are relatively formal words, but diminishing is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.
