Decrease and Withering

noun

• A change downward.
  • usage: "there was a decrease in his temperature as the fever subsided"; "there was a sharp drop-off in sales"
  • synonyms: lessening, drop-off
• A process of becoming smaller or shorter.
  • synonyms: decrement
• The amount by which something decreases.
  • synonyms: decrement
• The act of decreasing or reducing something.
  • synonyms: diminution, reduction, step-down

verb

• Decrease in size, extent, or range.
  • usage: "The amount of homework decreased towards the end of the semester"; "The cabin pressure fell dramatically"; "her weight fell to under a hundred pounds"; "his voice fell to a whisper"
  • synonyms: diminish, lessen, fall
• Make smaller.
  • usage: "He decreased his staff"
  • synonyms: lessen, minify

• (v.t.) To cause to grow less; to diminish gradually; as, extravagance decreases one's means.
• (v.) A becoming less; gradual diminution; decay; as, a decrease of revenue or of strength.
• (n.) To grow less, -- opposed to increase; to be diminished gradually, in size, degree, number, duration, etc. or in strength, quality or excellence; as, they days decrease in length from June to December.
• (v.) The wane of the moon.

noun

• Any weakening or degeneration (especially through lack of use.
  • synonyms: atrophy

verb

• Wither, as with a loss of moisture.
  • usage: "The fruit dried and shriveled"
  • synonyms: shrivel, shrivel up, shrink, wither
• Lose freshness, vigor, or vitality.
  • usage: "Her bloom was fading"
  • synonyms: fade, wither

adjective

• Wreaking or capable of wreaking complete destruction.
  • usage: "possessing annihilative power"; "a devastating hurricane"; "the guns opened a withering fire"
  • synonyms: annihilative, annihilating, devastating
• Making light of."afire with annihilating invective"; "a devastating portrait of human folly"; "to compliments inflated I've a withering reply- W. S. Gilbert
  • synonyms: annihilating, devastating

• (a.) Tending to wither; causing to shrink or fade.
• (p.pr.&vb.n.) of Wither.