diminishing

/di'miniʃip/

Thân thiện

His enthusiasm showed a diminishing interest in the project.

Definition

Adjective 1. Becoming smaller or less: Describes something that is decreasing in size, amount, intensity, or importance. 2. Appearing to become smaller or less: Can describe the visual or perceived effect of reduction.

Usage and Examples

The adjective diminishing is primarily used to describe a noun, indicating a continuous or progressive decrease.

• Diminishing resources are a major concern for the future.
• She spoke with diminishing enthusiasm as the meeting dragged on.
• The sound of the train faded into the distance with diminishing volume.
• Investors are worried about the diminishing value of the currency.

Advanced Usage and Specialized Contexts

• Diminishing returns (Economics): A principle stating that if one factor of production is increased while others are held constant, the overall output will eventually increase at a slower rate. After a certain point, adding more input yields progressively smaller or "diminishing" increases in output.
  • Example: The factory is experiencing diminishing returns; hiring more workers is no longer making production significantly faster.
• Law of Diminishing Marginal Utility (Economics): The principle that as a person consumes more units of a good, the additional satisfaction (utility) gained from each new unit diminishes.
• Diminishing perspective (Art): The visual effect where objects appear smaller the farther they are from the viewer.

Variants and Related Words

• Diminish (verb): To make or become less.
  • Example: The pain will diminish over time.
• Diminished (adjective): Made smaller or less; reduced.
  • Example: He played with a diminished role in the sequel.
• Diminution (noun): A reduction in the size, extent, or importance of something.
  • Example: The treaty resulted in a diminution of the empire's territory.

Synonyms

• Decreasing
• Declining
• Shrinking
• Waning
• Subsiding
• Fading

Antonyms

• Increasing
• Growing
• Expanding
• Escalating
• Intensifying

Học thuật

Adjective

1. becoming smaller or less or appearing to do so
   • diminishing returns
   • his diminishing respect for her