DECLINE Synonyms: 444 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'decline' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of decline are refuse , reject , repudiate , and spurn . While all these words mean "to turn away by not accepting, receiving, or considering," decline often implies courteous refusal especially of offers or invitations. // declined his party's nomination

Q: When might 'refuse' be a better fit than 'decline'?

While in some cases nearly identical to decline , refuse suggests more positiveness or ungraciousness and often implies the denial of something asked for. // refused to lend them the money

Q: When would 'reject' be a good substitute for 'decline'?

The words reject and decline can be used in similar contexts, but reject implies a peremptory refusal by sending away or discarding. // rejected the manuscript as unpublishable

Q: When is it sensible to use 'repudiate' instead of 'decline'?

The synonyms repudiate and decline are sometimes interchangeable, but repudiate implies a casting off or disowning as untrue, unauthorized, or unworthy of acceptance. // teenagers who repudiate the values of their parents

Q: Where would 'spurn' be a reasonable alternative to 'decline'?

While the synonyms spurn and decline are close in meaning, spurn stresses contempt or disdain in rejection or repudiation. // spurned his overtures of friendship

decline 1 of 2

verb

di-ˈklīn

Definition of decline

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

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Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to deny

to be unwilling to grant declined our request to hold a party

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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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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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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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decline

2 of 2

noun

di-ˈklīn

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in declination

a change to a lower state or level the decline of the Roman Empire

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in downhill

a downward slope the bicyclist lost control on the unexpectedly steep decline

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word decline different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of decline are refuse, reject, repudiate, and spurn. While all these words mean "to turn away by not accepting, receiving, or considering," decline often implies courteous refusal especially of offers or invitations.

declined his party's nomination

When might refuse be a better fit than decline?

While in some cases nearly identical to decline, refuse suggests more positiveness or ungraciousness and often implies the denial of something asked for.

refused to lend them the money

When would reject be a good substitute for decline?

The words reject and decline can be used in similar contexts, but reject implies a peremptory refusal by sending away or discarding.

rejected the manuscript as unpublishable

When is it sensible to use repudiate instead of decline?

The synonyms repudiate and decline are sometimes interchangeable, but repudiate implies a casting off or disowning as untrue, unauthorized, or unworthy of acceptance.

teenagers who repudiate the values of their parents

Where would spurn be a reasonable alternative to decline?

While the synonyms spurn and decline are close in meaning, spurn stresses contempt or disdain in rejection or repudiation.

spurned his overtures of friendship

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of decline

Verb

The state also has goals, including some that have been in place since 2012, that set declining limits on smog-causing pollutants and required automakers to sell increasing percentages of electric and hybrid vehicles through 2025. — Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026 For in-state students who have student loans to pay off, the average level of debt has declined by $11,400 over 10 years from $28,700 in 2013 to $17,300 in 2024. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026

Noun

Both Taylor and fellow El Dorado County resident Dawn Wolfson pointed to the decline of jobs in the lumber industry. — Corey Schmidt july 1, Sacbee.com, 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

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.

— Oren Liebermann, CNN Money, 6 July 2026
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.

— Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 6 July 2026

Definition of refuse

Verb

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.

— Joy Press, Vanity Fair, 6 July 2026
Though concrete is a durable surface, concrete driveway repair is needed when the surface deteriorates and develops cracks over the years.

— Caitlin Sole, Better Homes & Gardens, 6 July 2026

Definition of deteriorate

Verb

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.

— Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 3 July 2026
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.

— ABC News, ABC News, 3 July 2026

Definition of decrease

Verb

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.

— Spencer Kimball, CNBC, 2 July 2026
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.

— Rick Jervis, USA Today, 1 July 2026

Definition of plunge

Noun

But nothing competes with the painful deterioration of her sight after contracting scarlet fever.

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 3 July 2026
In addition, city officials can now require owners to install security measures to help protect vacant buildings from further deterioration or trespassing.

— Brian Maass, CBS News, 2 July 2026

Definition of deterioration

Noun

The declinations came as the DOJ reassigned and cut prosecutors working on environmental cases.

— Ken B. Morales, ProPublica, 31 Mar. 2026
Federal regulations require special counsels to provide the attorney general with a report that explain prosecution or declination decisions once their work is concluded.

— Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026

Definition of declination

Browse Nearby Words

declinations

decline

declined

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Style

“Decline.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decline. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of decline

verb

noun

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