1
as in refuses
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 denies
to be unwilling to grant
declined our request to hold a party
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in falls
to go to a lower level especially abruptly
new-car sales declined to their lowest level in years
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in deteriorates
to become worse or of less value
his reputation as a writer began to decline not long after his death
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in decreases
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually
the winds should decline as soon as the cold front passes
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in plunges
to lead or extend downward
the bike path declines toward the riverbank and then follows the river for several miles
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in deteriorations
a change to a lower state or level
the decline of the Roman Empire
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dips
a downward slope
the bicyclist lost control on the unexpectedly steep decline
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in demises
a loss of status
the engagement at the small club was an unmistakable sign of the rock band's decline
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in reductions
the amount by which something is lessened
a huge decline in the value of the artwork after its authenticity was questioned
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of declines
Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Six out of the 10 top richest people in the world have experienced wealth declines between $30 and $60 billion this calendar year, totalling over $255 billion.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 30 Mar. 2026
One person with knowledge of the process said the PGA of America has a backup plan of four potential candidates for the Ryder Cup committee to review if Woods declines — or if the PGA of America moves on.
—CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
When water quality declines, local businesses suffer first, from charter operators to restaurants and hotels.
—Steve Adelstein, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026
If Maryland declines, those opportunities will exist elsewhere.
—Claudia Nachtigal, Baltimore Sun, 27 Mar. 2026
Their overtime declines significantly.
—Eugene Litvak, STAT, 27 Mar. 2026
From a financial standpoint, Bank of America estimates teen users account for roughly 1% of Meta’s revenue, suggesting limited exposure even if usage among younger audiences declines.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 26 Mar. 2026
Of the country’s 387 metropolitan statistical areas, 310 saw slower growth between 2024 and 2025 compared with the year earlier, the data showed, and many of the country’s most populous areas actually saw population declines.
—Trevor Bach, Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
Jason Ma, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026
However, the declines are minimal versus their two-year runs.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 29 Mar. 2026
An early morning brawl last summer outside a Downtown bar drew national attention when video of the incident went viral online, and violent crime Downtown has ticked up over the past year even as other city neighborhoods have seen declines.
—David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 27 Mar. 2026
The war with Iran, which has led to stock market declines and gas pump hikes, has only added to the unease.
—Alex Hinton, The Conversation, 26 Mar. 2026
City-level data show sharper declines from certain European hubs.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026
As the February Gauge release approached, several clients were expressing concerns that the measurement firm was going to put out numbers suggesting sharper-than-expected declines in streaming.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 20 Mar. 2026
Wall Street has now posted its fourth consecutive week of declines, with investors increasingly pricing in the risk that higher energy costs could slow economic growth while reigniting inflation.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
The survey data also revealed some declines in France, Ireland, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
—Lily Hautau, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
Verb
Jeannot is not wired to jump anybody who declines an invitation.
—Fluto Shinzawa, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
Six out of the 10 top richest people in the world have experienced wealth declines between $30 and $60 billion this calendar year, totalling over $255 billion.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 30 Mar. 2026
One person with knowledge of the process said the PGA of America has a backup plan of four potential candidates for the Ryder Cup committee to review if Woods declines — or if the PGA of America moves on.
—CBS News, 29 Mar. 2026
When water quality declines, local businesses suffer first, from charter operators to restaurants and hotels.
—Steve Adelstein, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026
If Maryland declines, those opportunities will exist elsewhere.
—Claudia Nachtigal, Baltimore Sun, 27 Mar. 2026
Their overtime declines significantly.
—Eugene Litvak, STAT, 27 Mar. 2026
From a financial standpoint, Bank of America estimates teen users account for roughly 1% of Meta’s revenue, suggesting limited exposure even if usage among younger audiences declines.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 26 Mar. 2026
Of the country’s 387 metropolitan statistical areas, 310 saw slower growth between 2024 and 2025 compared with the year earlier, the data showed, and many of the country’s most populous areas actually saw population declines.
—Trevor Bach, Dallas Morning News, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
Recent easing failed to prevent spending declines in several consumer categories.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 29 Mar. 2026
However, the declines are minimal versus their two-year runs.
—Jim Cramer, CNBC, 29 Mar. 2026
An early morning brawl last summer outside a Downtown bar drew national attention when video of the incident went viral online, and violent crime Downtown has ticked up over the past year even as other city neighborhoods have seen declines.
—David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 27 Mar. 2026
The war with Iran, which has led to stock market declines and gas pump hikes, has only added to the unease.
—Alex Hinton, The Conversation, 26 Mar. 2026
City-level data show sharper declines from certain European hubs.
—Nathan Diller, USA Today, 23 Mar. 2026
As the February Gauge release approached, several clients were expressing concerns that the measurement firm was going to put out numbers suggesting sharper-than-expected declines in streaming.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 20 Mar. 2026
Wall Street has now posted its fourth consecutive week of declines, with investors increasingly pricing in the risk that higher energy costs could slow economic growth while reigniting inflation.
—Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
The survey data also revealed some declines in France, Ireland, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
—Lily Hautau, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for declines
Verb
-
Insurance bad faith claims can stem from different factors, including when an insurance company refuses to settle a claim within policy limits and therefore risks exposing its client to a larger liability at trial.—
Madeline King,
Chicago Tribune,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Like the impish anti-romance that crumbles around it, the movie’s twist is both transgressive enough to be pleased with itself and also rooted in a reality that refuses to be dismissed as a bad joke.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In the last 24 hours, regional powers — particularly the UAE — have signaled a hardening of their stance toward Iran despite apparent efforts by the White House to find an off-ramp from the conflict, touting peace talks with the Islamic Republic, which denies negotiations are taking place.—
Holly Ellyatt,Emma Graham,
CNBC,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Maduro has pleaded not guilty and denies being involved in drug trafficking.—
Peter Charalambous,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Support falls somewhat, to 70%, among non-MAGA Republicans.—
Anne Bryson,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Payton’s falls short of Chamberlain Gary Payton II had a chance to equal the feat of one of the game’s greatest players on Friday.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
When hospitals operate under extreme and unpredictable demand spikes, patient safety deteriorates.—
Eugene Litvak,
STAT,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Haldea cautioned that the secondary market could struggle to absorb a large wave of redemptions if investor sentiment deteriorates sharply.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
-
This slightly decreases the total mass of objects in interplanetary space — the material and space between planets — while slightly increasing the masses of the planets themselves.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
His documentary plunges viewers into a 1996 expedition in Brazil to contact the isolate Indigenous Koruba people in the Amazon rainforest.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Set in a remote harbor village near the DMZ, the sci-fi thriller kicks off with reports of a mysterious discovery that plunges the town into a desperate fight for survival.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
One face is of marble and tall glass with a few neo- classical dips and angles, dignified, but probably more suitable for a post office out in the stern Midwest than an urban bayscape in South Florida.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The district saw significant dips in pre-K and kindergarten.—
Jessica Ma,
Dallas Morning News,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
No reason was provided for the shops’ demises.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
26 Nov. 2025
-
The mission, the fourth of 2025, would also be Starship's first flight since May 27 amid a year plagued by explosive demises for the vehicle.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
26 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Declines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/declines. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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