vanishingly small

USAGE SUMMARY

'vanishingly small' is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to describe something very small, often used in comparison to something much larger. For example, "The chances of success were vanishingly small."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Loan losses are vanishingly small.

The Economist

"The odds were vanishingly small.

Independent

"The benefit is vanishingly small," Dr. Seiden said.

The New York Times

The chance of dying in an airplane is vanishingly small.

The New York Times

News channels suffer from low audiences – at times vanishingly small.

The Guardian

But that sweet spot, she suggested, was vanishingly small.

The New York Times

Then again, the list of actors able to deliver hits from any material is vanishingly small.

The Guardian - Film

Although alpha may be vanishingly small, it still represents enough profit to keep the computers running.

The Guardian - Business

The number of doctors, teachers and lawyers who refused to implement Nazi policies was vanishingly small.

The Guardian

The chance that they inherited the same one gene is vanishingly small.

The New York Times

"It doesn't happen except through asbestos, with vanishingly small exceptions," Professor Childs said.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "vanishingly small" to emphasize the extreme degree of smallness, particularly when comparing it to something much larger or when suggesting that it is approaching zero. This adds impact and precision to your writing.

Common error

Avoid using "vanishingly small" in informal conversations or situations where a simpler term like "very small" or "tiny" would suffice. The phrase's formality and intensity can sound awkward or pretentious in casual settings.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "vanishingly small" functions as a qualifying adjective, modifying a noun to indicate an extremely small quantity, size, or probability. Ludwig confirms its correct usage in diverse contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

49%

Science

42%

Formal & Business

9%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "vanishingly small" is a phrase used to describe something extremely small or insignificant. As Ludwig's analysis confirms, the phrase is grammatically correct and suitable for formal writing, particularly in scientific and news contexts. It's more about the degree of smallness and insignificance. While there are several synonyms, such as "extremely small" or "almost nonexistent", "vanishingly small" provides a more emphatic way to convey that something is nearly zero. Ludwig AI correctly identifies that this phrase is indeed fit to be used in written English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely small

Uses "extremely" instead of "vanishingly", suggesting a high degree of smallness but less emphasis on the approaching-zero aspect.

incredibly tiny

Emphasizes the diminutive size using "incredibly" and "tiny", implying wonder or disbelief at the smallness.

almost nonexistent

Focuses on the near absence of something, rather than its small size.

negligibly small

Highlights that something is so small it can be disregarded or ignored.

miniscule

Is a single adjective that captures extreme smallness in a more concise way.

infinitesimally small

Suggests a level of smallness approaching mathematical infinitesimals, suitable for technical contexts.

hardly any

Simplifies the concept to a lack of quantity or presence.

virtually non-existent

Similar to "almost nonexistent" but with a slightly stronger emphasis on the absence.

scarcely perceptible

Indicates that something is so small it's difficult to detect or notice.

a drop in the bucket

Implies that something is insignificant compared to a larger whole.

FAQs

How can I use "vanishingly small" in a sentence?

The phrase "vanishingly small" is used to describe something that is extremely small, often to the point of being almost negligible. For example, "The chance of winning the lottery is "vanishingly small"."

What does "vanishingly small" mean?

The term "vanishingly small" signifies something that is extremely minute or insignificant, almost to the point of disappearing or having no effect. It emphasizes the near-zero magnitude of something.

Are there synonyms for "vanishingly small"?

Yes, you can use alternatives like "extremely small", "incredibly tiny", or "almost nonexistent", depending on the specific context and the nuance you wish to convey.

Is it appropriate to use "vanishingly small" in formal writing?

Yes, "vanishingly small" is suitable for formal and scientific writing. Its precise and descriptive nature makes it effective in contexts where accuracy and emphasis on minimal quantities are important.