Less and less of something

Question

English provides us with many verbs that indicate a decrease of sth. I find it difficult to distinguish in which context to use properly the followingdwindlewanefalterdiminishcould you help?

Avangi · Accepted Answer

Anonymousdwindle suggests the supply is not being replenished and may become exhausted (This is just my impression. I may be wrong.)

wane I think of this as possibly cyclical, as with the phases of the moon - (waxing and waning) Often applies to a trend or influence. Again, I may be wrong. "The strength or domination of the American automotive industry seems to be on the wane." (It may not return.) "The popularity of VHS videocassettes is on the wane." (It will not return.)

falter This brings to mind something which normally progresses more or less predictably, but suddenly or unexpectedly loses impetus, as an engine in the throes of stalling. In the case of a scalar, the numbers may typically experience a steady rise, and then suddenly stop rising (or begin to fall.)

diminish This is probably the most general expression for some kind of reduction, not necessarily a trend. It's sort of like "decline." "It declined / diminished." (a one-time drop) "It is declining / diminishing." This is a trend. (Consider "diminished capacity" vs. "diminishing capacity.")

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