as in bowing
bending downward or forward
we awaited our punishment with declined heads
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in refused
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in denied
to be unwilling to grant
declined our request to hold a party
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in fell
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 deteriorated
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 decreased
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 plunged
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of declined
Zach Lachance, The Washington Examiner, 15 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, pathways responsible for synthesizing certain B vitamins declined, suggesting the community was reallocating its biochemical resources rather than simply increasing activity across the board.
—New Atlas, 14 Feb. 2026
Reached by Fox News Digital, the Department of War declined to comment.
—Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 14 Feb. 2026
The governor’s office declined to say whether the foundation also pays for Newsom’s security detail.
—Melody Gutierrez, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Advertisement Six months after his death, Russia’s Investigative Committee declined to open a criminal investigation, citing a combination of medical conditions.
—Nandika Chatterjee, Time, 14 Feb. 2026
The sheriff’s department said the activity was part of the Guthrie investigation but declined to detail specifics.
—ABC News, 14 Feb. 2026
In a 2024 agreement with DaVita, Berkshire promised to keep its stake at or below 45% of the company's outstanding shares, a level that declined last quarter as DaVita bought back its own stock.
—Alex Crippen, CNBC, 7 Feb. 2026
However, a league source said — and Yabusele later confirmed — that the forward declined his player option as a stipulation of this deal.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
Verb
Trump has also, thus far, declined meeting Pahlavi, who has lived in Washington since his family’s exile in 1979.
—Zach Lachance, The Washington Examiner, 15 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, pathways responsible for synthesizing certain B vitamins declined, suggesting the community was reallocating its biochemical resources rather than simply increasing activity across the board.
—New Atlas, 14 Feb. 2026
Reached by Fox News Digital, the Department of War declined to comment.
—Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 14 Feb. 2026
The governor’s office declined to say whether the foundation also pays for Newsom’s security detail.
—Melody Gutierrez, Los Angeles Times, 14 Feb. 2026
Advertisement Six months after his death, Russia’s Investigative Committee declined to open a criminal investigation, citing a combination of medical conditions.
—Nandika Chatterjee, Time, 14 Feb. 2026
The sheriff’s department said the activity was part of the Guthrie investigation but declined to detail specifics.
—ABC News, 14 Feb. 2026
In a 2024 agreement with DaVita, Berkshire promised to keep its stake at or below 45% of the company's outstanding shares, a level that declined last quarter as DaVita bought back its own stock.
—Alex Crippen, CNBC, 7 Feb. 2026
However, a league source said — and Yabusele later confirmed — that the forward declined his player option as a stipulation of this deal.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for declined
Verb
-
Trump subsequently condemned the image but refused to apologize.—
Kevin Breuninger,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Prior to her death, Phillips had refused meals over multiple days while in the Tarrant County Jail.—
Matthew Adams,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Board of Directors denied Buchanan's reappointment to a full five-year term last October.—
Joseph Flaherty,
Arkansas Online,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Hubbard denied the students' accusations.—
Lily Kepner,
Austin American Statesman,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Cortina Mayor Gianluca Lorenzi received death threats after centuries-old trees were felled to make way for a $131 million bobsledding track.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Afterward, Agnes and I were felled by the kind of hunger that overtakes only those who have exerted themselves in cold weather.—
Boris Fishman,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Prosecutors argue that Colin Gray was aware that his son's mental health had deteriorated in the weeks before the shooting, but still gave the teen the assault-style weapon as a Christmas gift and purchased a laser sight, tactical vest, and ammunition for him.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
13 Feb. 2026
-
But the brands’ sales have deteriorated further since the split was announced, making a spinoff less appealing to investors.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But over that same span, the number of boys playing flag football actually decreased.—
Hannah Keyser,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Short-term rates have come down as the Federal Reserve decreased the federal funds rate, but the central bank opted to pause rate cuts in January.—
Michelle Fox,
CNBC,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The city’s press freedom ranking plunged drastically from 80th out of 180 countries in 2021 to 140th last year, according to Reporters Without Borders.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Their standing among independents plunged during their first year.—
Craig Gilbert,
jsonline.com,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
James O’Donoghue, a planetary scientist with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, likened our planet’s tilting phenomenon to a nodding head.—
Aylin Woodward,
WSJ,
21 Dec. 2021
Verb
-
More than 300 district judges in Minnesota and elsewhere have so far rejected the government’s mandatory detention policies, ordering detainees released or granted bond hearings.—
Kaelan Deese,
The Washington Examiner,
6 Feb. 2026
-
That happened recently in Kansas City – where voters rejected a new stadium – and Philadelphia, where the team reversed its decision to build the arena near the city’s Chinatown.—
Gidon Jakar,
The Conversation,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Declined.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/declined. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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