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
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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, 4 Apr. 2026
Most of the severe declines happened in rural areas, although urban counties like San Francisco and Los Angeles also saw decreases.
—Kristen Hwang, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2026
The price of gold is now sitting at just under $4,700 per ounce (as of April 3, 2026) following one of its steepest monthly declines in recent history.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
While 2015, 2017 and 2019 ranked among the highest homicides totals ever recorded in the city– with those years reaching almost 350 homicides each– sharp declines in the last few years have brought Baltimore’s murder rates to a historic low.
—Stella Canino-Quinones, Baltimore Sun, 3 Apr. 2026
If the benchmark declines ends the session lower, the total of 10 in a row would be the longest negative streak ever for the weekday.
—Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026
In fact, Vermont has seen one of the largest declines in opioid overdose deaths in the country.
—Andrew Kolodny, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 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
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
The declines were concentrated among men in their 20s and 30s, women between ages 20 and 24, and men over 55.
—Jason Ma, Fortune, 4 Apr. 2026
Most of the severe declines happened in rural areas, although urban counties like San Francisco and Los Angeles also saw decreases.
—Kristen Hwang, Los Angeles Times, 4 Apr. 2026
The price of gold is now sitting at just under $4,700 per ounce (as of April 3, 2026) following one of its steepest monthly declines in recent history.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
While 2015, 2017 and 2019 ranked among the highest homicides totals ever recorded in the city– with those years reaching almost 350 homicides each– sharp declines in the last few years have brought Baltimore’s murder rates to a historic low.
—Stella Canino-Quinones, Baltimore Sun, 3 Apr. 2026
If the benchmark declines ends the session lower, the total of 10 in a row would be the longest negative streak ever for the weekday.
—Davis Giangiulio, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026
In fact, Vermont has seen one of the largest declines in opioid overdose deaths in the country.
—Andrew Kolodny, The Conversation, 2 Apr. 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
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
-
Charter, which denies wrongdoing, argued in its motion to dismiss that any damages paid to the family for Lyons’ death should come from a worker’s compensation claim, not a wrongful death lawsuit.—
Cristóbal Reyes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
-
In her statement to Vanity Fair, Kathrin denies the company was in difficulties.—
Simon Akam,
Vanity Fair,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That means Easter Sunday never falls later than April 25.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
4 Apr. 2026
-
On shrill winter nights, Moscow’s power is conspicuous, its Orthodox cathedrals and Stalinist high-rises illuminated, though the view falls dim in the autumn and spring, shrouded in sheets of greige.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
And as our credit deteriorates, borrowing gets more expensive, forcing us to borrow more to keep up, which worsens our credit further.—
Bill Conway,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
-
When hospitals operate under extreme and unpredictable demand spikes, patient safety deteriorates.—
Eugene Litvak,
STAT,
27 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
-
Similar deteriorations took place in Tuscany and in Naples.—
Britannica Editors,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But the returns on the trade haven't been as strong over time, and data on whether traders are still buying the dips amid the Middle East war is murky.—
Davis Giangiulio,
CNBC,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Take the seven-minute gondola lift up, then drive a plastic cart down the banked corners and dips of a mile-long luge course.—
New York Times,
New York Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Declines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/declines. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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