gradually diminishing

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "gradually diminishing" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a process where something decreases in size, amount, or intensity over time. Example: "The noise from the construction site was gradually diminishing as the workers finished their tasks for the day."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The level of respect received from doctors, shop assistants, officials of all sorts is gradually diminishing.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

This view was maintained with only gradually diminishing conviction for at least another 50 years.

The Guardian - Arts

It was another milestone in the gradually diminishing American military presence in the country.

The New York Times

Like wetlands across the country, the marshes have been gradually diminishing in the past 100 years, according to scientists.

The New York Times

Sadly, too, a serpent has entered this paradise and is gradually diminishing the claim made by Perfect View's name.

The Guardian - Travel

It now appears as a large, square plinth (the processional path) upon which stand five terraces gradually diminishing in size.

Encyclopedia Britannica

On Thursday, the shooting — along with the tense protests that preceded it — appeared to have deepened distrust between police and protesters here, after months of gradually diminishing tensions.

The Washington Post

Moriuchi argued for stricter, more consistent application of U.S. export controls with the goal of gradually diminishing North Korea's ability to conduct cyberattacks.

The Washington Post

In this study, miR-200b/c are gradually diminishing from NFs to AHFs and CAFs, which play a role to influence the early predisposed AHFs into activated CAFs.

Nature

In atherosclerosis, fatty plaques build up on the walls of the coronary arteries, gradually diminishing the flow of blood through them.

Britannica

However, one significant change of language did occur, with the phrase "underutilization of labour resources" being "significant" changed to "gradually diminishing".

The Guardian - Opinion

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "gradually diminishing" to describe processes where the decrease happens incrementally over time, rather than abruptly. For instance, "The company's profits were gradually diminishing due to increased competition."

Common error

Avoid using "gradually diminishing" interchangeably with words that suggest a sudden drop or disappearance. "Gradually diminishing" implies a continuous, slow decline, not an immediate one.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "gradually diminishing" functions as a descriptive modifier, typically used in conjunction with a noun. It indicates a process of slow reduction or decline over time, as seen in Ludwig's examples like "gradually diminishing tensions" or "gradually diminishing diameter."

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Encyclopedias

12%

Less common in

Formal & Business

8%

Wiki

6%

Academia

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "gradually diminishing" effectively communicates a slow and continuous decline, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Appearing most frequently in News & Media and Scientific contexts, it maintains a neutral register suitable for formal and objective writing. It's essential to use it to refer to processes where the reduction happens incrementally over time. Some excellent alternatives include "slowly decreasing" and "progressively lessening". Ludwig's analysis shows that the phrase is grammatically correct and widely used, making it a valuable addition to any writer's vocabulary.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

slowly decreasing

Emphasizes the pace of the reduction.

progressively lessening

Highlights the step-by-step nature of the reduction.

steadily declining

Focuses on a consistent downward trend.

gradually waning

Suggests a loss of power or influence over time.

successively decreasing

Highlights that each step is smaller than the previous one.

incrementally reducing

Focuses on the small, added steps in the reduction.

gradually attenuating

Emphasizes a weakening or reduction in intensity.

slowly eroding

Implies a wearing away or gradual destruction.

gradually subsiding

Suggests a decrease in activity or intensity.

slowly petering out

Indicates a slow and complete disappearance.

FAQs

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

You can use "gradually diminishing" to describe something that is decreasing slowly over a period of time. For example, "The support for the policy was "gradually diminishing" as more people learned about its drawbacks."

What are some alternatives to "gradually diminishing"?

You can use alternatives like "slowly decreasing", "progressively lessening", or "steadily declining" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "gradually diminishing" or "suddenly diminishing"?

Both phrases are grammatically correct, but they describe different types of changes. "Gradually diminishing" implies a slow, continuous decline, while "suddenly diminishing" would indicate a rapid decrease.

What's the difference between "gradually diminishing" and "gradually disappearing"?

"Gradually diminishing" suggests a reduction in size, amount, or intensity, while "gradually disappearing" implies something is slowly ceasing to exist or becoming invisible. The first indicates decline, and the second indicates vanishing.