What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
windle
Example
The company's profits began to windle after the economic downturn. [windle: verb]
Example
The number of attendees at the event started to windle as the day went on. [windling: gerund or present participle]
dwindle
Example
The water supply in the reservoir continued to dwindle due to the drought. [dwindle: verb]
Example
The town's population has been dwindling for years due to lack of job opportunities. [dwindling: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Dwindle is more commonly used than windle in everyday language. Dwindle is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while windle is less common and may sound outdated or archaic in some contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between windle and dwindle?
While both windle and dwindle can be used in formal and informal contexts, dwindle is more versatile and can be employed in various formality levels, allowing it to be used in both formal and informal contexts.