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
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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
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Recent Examples of decline
Abigail Adams,
PEOPLE,
2 July 2026
And, unlike 100 years ago, the country now faces a declining population and work force.
—
Albert Sun,
New York Times,
2 July 2026
Allison Palmer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 July 2026
Mag 7 stocks under pressure All stocks in the group were in the red for June, with Microsoft falling 17% for the month, recording its biggest month decline since December 2000.
—
Deena Zaidi,
CNBC,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for decline
Verb
The Milwaukee Police Department has confirmed to PEOPLE that Walker was found on May 25, but declined to provide additional information.
—
Abigail Adams,
PEOPLE,
2 July 2026
And, unlike 100 years ago, the country now faces a declining population and work force.
—
Albert Sun,
New York Times,
2 July 2026
Noun
For hearing loss already underway, early treatment can slow related declines in memory, balance and social connection.
—
Allison Palmer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 July 2026
Mag 7 stocks under pressure All stocks in the group were in the red for June, with Microsoft falling 17% for the month, recording its biggest month decline since December 2000.
—
Deena Zaidi,
CNBC,
1 July 2026
See All Example Sentences for decline
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decline
Verb
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Hamas’ statement made no mention of disarmament, one of the key requirements under the second phase of the ceasefire deal, which the group has so far refused.
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To conceal the theft from his investors, Correia refused to disclose his company’s financial records and gave false positive updates on SnoOwl’s status.
Verb
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His opponent claimed that created a conflict of interest, which Weiser denied.
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The two housekeepers denied having such a conversation with Brown, noting language differences would have made such a discussion unlikely.
Verb
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The woman fell about 1,500 vertical feet, from around 12,000 feet to about 11,500 feet.
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The report will also provide insight into whether American workers’ paychecks are falling further behind inflation.
Verb
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They can also be used for de-aging characters, creating performances in different languages, or preserving the voice or likeness of an actor whose health is deteriorating, as was the case with CAA client Eric Dane.
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Though concrete is a durable surface, concrete driveway repair is needed when the surface deteriorates and develops cracks over the years.
Verb
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Plus, new windows are more energy efficient than old ones, meaning a summer installation can decrease your energy bill now and when temperatures drop in the fall and winter.
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Doubles players fear for their tennis future after being told by the ATP Tour that prize money and tournament sizes will decrease significantly starting in 2028.
Verb
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Riyadh largely paused shipments from its Gulf export terminals of Ras Tanura and Juaymah on March 9 after tanker traffic through Hormuz plunged due to Iranian attacks.
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Even as the communist country proposes reforms, the United States continues a pressure campaign, ramping up economic sanctions and maintaining an oil embargo that has plunged much of the island into darkness.
Noun
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But nothing competes with the painful deterioration of her sight after contracting scarlet fever.
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In addition, city officials can now require owners to install security measures to help protect vacant buildings from further deterioration or trespassing.
Noun
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The declinations came as the DOJ reassigned and cut prosecutors working on environmental cases.
-
Federal regulations require special counsels to provide the attorney general with a report that explain prosecution or declination decisions once their work is concluded.
Cite this Entry
“Decline.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decline. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.
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