1
as in to refuse
to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to
he declined the invitation to the party she declined to participate in the soccer game
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to deny
to be unwilling to grant
declined our request to hold a party
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3
as in to fall
to go to a lower level especially abruptly
new-car sales declined to their lowest level in years
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4
as in to deteriorate
to become worse or of less value
his reputation as a writer began to decline not long after his death
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5
as in to decrease
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually
the winds should decline as soon as the cold front passes
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6
as in to plunge
to lead or extend downward
the bike path declines toward the riverbank and then follows the river for several miles
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1
as in deterioration
a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body
her sad decline from a robust athlete to an old woman with arthritis
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2
as in declination
a change to a lower state or level
the decline of the Roman Empire
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3
as in downhill
a downward slope
the bicyclist lost control on the unexpectedly steep decline
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4
as in demise
a loss of status
the engagement at the small club was an unmistakable sign of the rock band's decline
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5
as in decrease
the amount by which something is lessened
a huge decline in the value of the artwork after its authenticity was questioned
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of decline
Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
The White House declined to issue a statement or answer questions regarding the portrait, instead pointing back to Trump's social media post.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025
Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
That’s below the 51-year average of 98 and marks the sharpest monthly decline since June 2022.
—Brandon Kochkodin, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decline
Verb
A number of people there have already been impacted or fear what might happen, including a teacher whose students will have fewer opportunities, a business owner who is uncertain how to plan and several senior citizens worried about declining income in their retirement.
—Steve Sadin, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
The White House declined to issue a statement or answer questions regarding the portrait, instead pointing back to Trump's social media post.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
Bally’s Chicago ranked sixth in revenue among the state’s casinos with $29 million during the first quarter, a 4% year-over-year decline.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 8 Apr. 2025
That’s below the 51-year average of 98 and marks the sharpest monthly decline since June 2022.
—Brandon Kochkodin, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decline
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decline
Verb
-
The panel of House and Senate members argued over whether to punish the universities for their DEI initiatives — diversity, equity and inclusion — or whether to reward the schools for recent actions, like refusing to compete with a volleyball team with a transgender athlete.—
Carolyn Komatsoulis,
Idaho Statesman,
2 Apr. 2025
-
Oyer alleges she was fired by the Trump administration after refusing an order to intervene and help restore actor Mel Gibson's rights to possess a gun.—
Scott MacFarlane,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Sullivan has denied any wrongdoing.—
Livi Stanford,
Hartford Courant,
25 Mar. 2025
-
The guys play too many matches and Didier can be a bit dense -- like denying a request for a couple weeks off to move to another country.—
Tom Williams,
The Athletic,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
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However, that fight fell apart in early March, when a hand injury forced Whyte from the card.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
-
The benchmark 10-year Treasury yield fell as low as 4% as investors turned to bonds in their search for safety.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Recent studies, including one at Ball State University, have found a correlation between stock market downturns and deteriorating mental health among retirees, including insomnia and depression.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2025
-
The deteriorating conditions at Montlake stem from a new policy at the Commerce Department that says Secretary Howard Lutnick must personally approve all contracts over $100,000.—
Lisa Song,
ProPublica,
11 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
In terms of a mechanism, the rejection seems to decrease levels of a neuropeptide in the brain, which increases after mating, leading Heberlein et al.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
2 Apr. 2025
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Keeping those cuts on the books would decrease revenue by $4.5 trillion from 2025 through 2034, according to estimates from the Tax Foundation.—
Ryan Ermey,
CNBC,
2 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Global stock markets plunged the day after the announcement, with major indexes across Europe, Asia, and the United States seeing steep declines.—
Sergei Klebnikov,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
-
Over half of the uber-wealthy on Bloomberg’s index saw their fortunes plunge an average of 3.3 percent, with American billionaires really taking it on the chin.—
Nicole Hoey,
Robb Report,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The deterioration of market breadth indicators going back to the fourth quarter of 2024 has provided a fantastic confirmation of the bearish conditions affecting the major equity averages.—
David Keller,
CNBC,
13 Mar. 2025
-
The results are rising food prices, unsafe food, and the deterioration of our environment.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
Newsweek,
13 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The changing declination also defines the daily arc that the sun takes across the sky, thereby accounting for the length of daylight.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
6 Feb. 2025
-
The sun's changing declination is what determines whether the sun's rays strike us at a low angle or more directly.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
6 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decline.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decline. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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