decrescendo

[ dee-kri-shen-doh, dey-; Italian de-kre-shen-daw ]

adjective

1. gradually reducing force or loudness; diminuendo ( crescendo ).

noun

, plural de·cre·scen·dos, Italian de·cre·scen·di [de-k, r, e-, shen, -dee].

1. a gradual reduction in force or loudness.
2. a decrescendo passage.

decrescendo

/ ˌdiːkrɪˈʃɛndəʊ /

noun

1. another word for diminuendo

Word History and Origins

Origin of decrescendo¹

1800–10; < Italian, gerund of decrescere; decrease

Word History and Origins

Origin of decrescendo¹

Italian, from decrescere to decrease

Example Sentences

I thought my closet, like my life, would decrescendo with time, and it’s done the opposite.

From Los Angeles Times

Still, decisions about crescendos and decrescendos, tempo, and score reading have to be made, but there are endless possibilities for vocalizing and playing these child-centered compositions.

From Literature

The story of this Black master of the ragtime genre can seem like one that never got far beyond the starting gate and ended with a sad decrescendo.

From New York Times

The scenes that follow are long decrescendos; always, by the end, her energy is depleted.

From New York Times

But he plans to return and build a cabin on family land when his music career reaches a decrescendo.

From Seattle Times