dwindle

Verb

Verb Forms: dwindled, dwindling, dwindles

To diminish gradually in size, amount, or strength.
become smaller or lose substance
- "Her savings dwindled down"
To decrease, shrink, diminish, reduce in size or intensity.
To fall away in quality; degenerate, sink.
To lessen; to bring low.
To break up or disperse.

Examples

As the game progressed, his high hopes began to dwindle with each low-scoring play.

Origin / Etymology

Frequentative form of dwine, from Middle English dwinen, from Old English dwīnan (“to waste away”), from Proto-West Germanic *dwīnan, from Proto-Germanic *dwīnaną. It is equivalent to dwine + -le, akin to Old Norse dvena, dvína, Dutch verdwijnen (“to disappear, dwindle”).

Synonyms

dwindle away, dwindle down, fade away, peter out, spin down, trail off, wane, wanse

Scrabble Score: 12

dwindle: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
dwindle: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
dwindle: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 14

dwindle: valid Words With Friends Word