gradually diminished

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "gradually diminished" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a process where something decreases in intensity, quantity, or quality over time. Example: "As the years went by, her enthusiasm for the project gradually diminished."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Since October, his ability to breathe had gradually diminished.

The New York Times

Last season, ABC used the show four times a week, and its ratings gradually diminished.

The New York Times

The pie's cheese sauce tasted strongly of flour, though this gradually diminished with daily reheating.

The New Yorker

But as other countries started rebuilding their economies, the advantage gradually diminished.

The Economist

Thus, the area of arable land available for the common use of the clansmen gradually diminished.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Though he would now deliver most of his act seated, the strength of his singing and the fluency of his playing were only very gradually diminished.

The Guardian - Music

If the answer is Yes, if I thought the LA Times could resolve its problems by getting smaller and smaller, by being gradually diminished, then I would stay.

The New York Times

But the fire pits, though gradually diminished from 450 in the early 1990s to 186 now, remain embedded in the sand and the local culture.

The New York Times

Then the practice gradually diminished, and the word disappeared from our literature... View Article By David Remnick By Jelani Cobb By Kelefa Sanneh By Sam Knight.

The New Yorker

Van Persie's importance gradually diminished under David Moyes and then his old Holland manager Louis van Gaal as a series of injuries hampered him.

The Guardian - Sport

Then the practice gradually diminished, and the word disappeared from our literature... View Article By Jelani Cobb By Doreen St. Félix By David Remnick By Jia Tolentino.

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "gradually diminished" when you want to emphasize a slow and steady decline, rather than a sudden drop.

Common error

Avoid using "gradually diminished" to describe events that happen suddenly or have a clear endpoint. It's best suited for processes that unfold over a period of time.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gradually diminished" functions as a verb phrase indicating a process of decreasing or lessening over time. Ludwig shows its usage in various contexts, emphasizing a slow, continuous reduction rather than an abrupt change.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

47%

News & Media

40%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

2%

Formal & Business

2%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "gradually diminished" is a versatile verb phrase that effectively communicates a slow and steady decline. According to Ludwig, its frequent usage across news, scientific, and even encyclopedic contexts demonstrates its widespread applicability. It's grammatically sound, and as indicated by Ludwig AI, it fits well in descriptive and analytical writing. While alternatives like "steadily declined" or "incrementally decreased" exist, "gradually diminished" remains a robust choice for expressing a progressive reduction over time. Therefore, while it's best to ensure it's depicting an actual gradual change, it's a fine and usable expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

incrementally decreased

Replaces "diminished" with "decreased" and "gradually" with "incrementally", emphasizing a step-by-step reduction.

steadily declined

Uses "declined" to replace "diminished" and "steadily" instead of "gradually", suggesting a more consistent decrease.

slowly waned

Replaces "diminished" with "waned" and "gradually" with "slowly", implying a loss of power or intensity.

progressively lessened

Emphasizes the continuous nature of the reduction by using "progressively" and "lessened".

successively reduced

Highlights the sequential nature of the reduction, suggesting it happens in stages.

gradually faded

Implies a decrease in visibility or audibility, using "faded" instead of "diminished".

gently tapered off

Suggests a smooth and gradual reduction, suitable for describing quantities or effects.

bit by bit shrunk

Uses a more informal tone, emphasizing the small and incremental nature of the reduction.

eased off gradually

Suggests a lessening of pressure or intensity over time, using the phrasal verb "eased off".

attenuated over time

Replaces "diminished" with "attenuated", lending a more formal and technical tone.

FAQs

What does "gradually diminished" mean?

The phrase "gradually diminished" means something has decreased slowly over a period of time.

How can I use "gradually diminished" in a sentence?

You might say, "The pain in my leg "gradually diminished" after taking the medication."

Which is a synonym for "gradually diminished"?

A synonym for "gradually diminished" is "steadily declined", which also suggests a slow and consistent decrease.

Is it correct to say "quickly diminished"?

While grammatically correct, "quickly diminished" might be conceptually contradictory. Consider using phrases like "rapidly decreased" or "immediately lessened" instead.