steadily less

USAGE SUMMARY

"steadily less" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a gradual decrease in quantity or intensity over time. Example: "The temperature was steadily less comfortable as the night progressed." Alternative expressions include "increasingly less" and "progressively less."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

57 human-written examples

But they're steadily less of a factor.

The New York Times

But the double standard looks steadily less defensible today.

The Guardian

The disease is degenerative, and he will become steadily less able to care for himself.

The New York Times

Since the 1990s Sunday has become steadily less "special", above all in shopping and leisure.

The Guardian - Opinion

But it's getting steadily less fantastic, which is why conglomerates keep selling them.

The New Yorker

During the 19th century, the London markets became steadily less connected with commercial reality.

Independent

Now it is changing again as Dhaka, a city of at least 15 million, gets steadily less poor.

The Guardian

Analysts have warned in recent years that by offering steadily less in print, newspapers were inviting readers to stop buying.

The New York Times

As he got older and stouter, the Irishman kept ahead of the bulls by running steadily less, of the course.

The Guardian

Fifteen years on, the industry seems to support that view; his films, however, have grown steadily less rewarding.

The Guardian - Film

Indeed, in economic and social affairs, the electorate grew steadily less Thatcherite during her years in office.

The Guardian - Business

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

This phrase is particularly effective in data-driven reporting or when describing long-term social and economic shifts.

Common error

Do not use "steadily less" to describe a sharp, sudden or volatile decline. The word "steadily" implies a rhythmic, even pace. If a value drops 50% in a single day, "steadily" would be factually misleading; in such cases, use words like "sharply" or "precipitously".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "steadily less" acts as an adverbial modifier. It combines the adverb "steadily" with the comparative adverb/determiner "less" to quantify the degree of a decrease. In the examples provided by Ludwig, it almost always modifies an adjective (e.g., "less defensible", "less popular") or a verb, functioning to provide a nuanced view of a downward trajectory.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Formal & Business

15%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Science

3%

Academia

1%

Social Media

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "steadily less" is a highly effective and grammatically sound phrase for describing sustained downward trends. According to Ludwig data, it is most frequently used in high-quality journalism to discuss everything from economic shifts to changing social behaviors. Unlike words that imply sudden change, this phrase suggests a measured, persistent decline. Ludwig AI confirms its reliability in professional registers, making it an excellent choice for writers who need to convey a sense of inevitable or consistent reduction without sounding alarmist. It remains a versatile tool for precision in both business and creative non-fiction.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

progressively less

Emphasizes the ongoing and sequential nature of the decrease.

increasingly less

Highlights the growing intensity of the diminishing trend.

gradually less

Focuses on the slow and gentle pace of the reduction.

incrementally less

Suggests a step-by-step decrease, often used in technical or economic contexts.

consistently less

Focuses on the lack of variation in the downward trend.

continuously less

Implies an uninterrupted decline without specific breaks.

systematically less

Suggests the decrease is part of a deliberate or structured process.

routinely less

Implies the decrease has become a regular or expected occurrence.

persistently less

Suggests a decline that continues despite potential resistance or counter-trends.

uniformly less

Indicates that the reduction is happening at an equal rate across different areas.

FAQs

How to use "steadily less" in a sentence?

You can use "steadily less" to modify an adjective to show a gradual decline, such as: "The traditional newspaper has become "steadily less relevant" in the digital age."

What can I say instead of "steadily less"?

Depending on your focus, you could use "progressively less" to show sequence or "increasingly less" to emphasize the trend's growth.

Which is correct, "steadily less" or "steady less"?

The correct form is "steadily less" because an adverb (steadily) is required to modify the word "less". "Steady less" is grammatically incorrect in this context.

What's the difference between "steadily less" and "gradually less"?

While very similar, "steadily less" implies a constant rate of change without interruption, whereas "gradually less" simply means the change happens over a long period, possibly at varying speeds.