| Main Entry: | |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | become smaller |
| Synonyms: | compress, concentrate, condense, constrict, contract, decrease, deflate, diminish, drop off, dwindle, fail, fall off, fall short, grow smaller, lessen, narrow, reduce, shorten, shrivel, wane, waste, waste away, weaken, wither, wrinkle |
| Antonyms: | develop, enlarge, expand, grow, stretch |
| Main Entry: | sink |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | deteriorate |
| Synonyms: | decay, decline, decrease, degenerate, depreciate, descend, die, diminish, disimprove, disintegrate, dwindle, fade, fail, flag, go downhill, lessen, retrograde, rot, spoil, waste, weaken, worsen |
| Antonyms: | increase, rise, strengthen |
| Main Entry: | slack/slacken |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | do little or nothing; loosen |
| Synonyms: | abate, decrease, diminish, dodge, drop off, dwindle, ease, ease off, featherbed, flag, goldbrick, goof off, idle, lax, lay back, lessen, let up, lie down on job, loose, moderate, neglect, reduce, relax, release, shirk, slack off, slow down, taper, tire, untighten, wane |
| Antonyms: | stiffen, tighten |
| Main Entry: | subside |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | die down; decrease |
| Synonyms: | abate, cave in, collapse, de-escalate, decline, descend, die away, diminish, drop, dwindle, ease, ease off, ebb, fall, let up, level off, lower, lull, melt, moderate, peter out, quieten, recede, settle, sink, slacken, taper, wane |
| Antonyms: | grow, increase, rise |
| Main Entry: | taper/taper off |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | decrease to a point |
| Synonyms: | abate, bate, close, come to a point, die away, die out, diminish, drain, dwindle, fade, lessen, narrow, recede, reduce, rescind, subside, thin, thin out, wane, weaken, wind down |
| Antonyms: | go up, increase, rise |
| Main Entry: | wane |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | diminish, lessen |
| Synonyms: | abate, atrophy, decline, decrease, die away, die down, die out, dim, draw to a close, drop, dwindle, ease off, ebb, fade, fade away, fail, fall, fall short, let up, moderate, peter out, relent, shrink, sink, slack off, slacken, subside, taper off, waste away, weaken, wind down, wither |
| Notes: | wane means to gradually decrease in strength or size, while wax means to increase in size or strength |
| Antonyms: | grow, increase, raise, rise |
| Main Entry: | weaken |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | reduce the strength of |
| Synonyms: | abate, adulterate, break up, cripple, crumble, cut, debase, debilitate, decline, decrease, depress, devitalize, dilute, diminish, droop, dwindle, ease up, enervate, exhaust, fade, fail, faint, flag, give way, halt, impair, impoverish, invalidate, languish, lessen, limp, lose, lose spirit, lower, minimize, mitigate, moderate, reduce, relapse, relax, sap, slow down, soften, temper, thin, thin out, tire, totter, tremble, undermine, vitiate, wane, water down, wilt |
| Antonyms: | build up, strengthen |
| Main Entry: | wear |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | corrode, use |
| Synonyms: | abrade, be worthless, become threadbare, become worn, chafe, consume, crumble, cut down, decay, decline, decrease, deteriorate, diminish, drain, dwindle, erode, exhaust, fade, fatigue, fray, gall, go to seed, graze, grind, impair, jade, overuse, overwork, rub, scrape, scrape off, scuff, shrink, tax, tire, use up, wash away, waste, wear out, wear thin, weary, weather |
| Notes: | ware is an item bought or a piece of pottery; wear is erosion; and where is a place |
| Antonyms: | freshen, rebuild, refresh |
| Main Entry: | wilt |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | sag, fail |
| Synonyms: | become limp, break down, cave in, collapse, diminish, droop, drop, dry up, dwindle, ebb, fade, faint, flag, give out, languish, melt, mummify, shrivel, sink, succumb, wane, waste, waste away, weaken, wither, wizen |
| Antonyms: | bloom, rise |