as in bowing
bending downward or forward
the declining flowers perked up with the gentle rainfall
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in decline
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in refusing
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 denying
to be unwilling to grant
declined our request to hold a party
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in falling
to go to a lower level especially abruptly
new-car sales declined to their lowest level in years
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in deteriorating
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 decreasing
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
6
as in plunging
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 declining
Tom MacCubbin, orlandosentinel.com, 6 Mar. 2021
In order to reopen, counties must demonstrate declining prevalence of COVID-19, testing ability of 30 tests per 10,000 residents per week, contact tracing and isolation facilities.
—Fox News, 15 May 2020
During replanting, remove dead and declining portions, including old roots.
—Tom MacCubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, 26 May 2018
The team then built mathematical models using the same data to assess how declining immunity might affect the susceptibility of the U.S. population.
—Roni Dengler, Science | AAAS, 21 Mar. 2018
According to a new analysis by the McKinsey Global Institute, 81 percent of the United States population is in an income bracket with flat or declining income over the last decade.
—Neil Irwin, New York Times, 6 Aug. 2016
Matt Richardson, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026
Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026
The Royal Navy has shrunk dramatically since the Cold War ended, with combat-ready ships declining from 166 in 1975 to 66 in 2025, following decades of military spending cuts.
—Pan Pylas, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
Retail sales climbed across nearly every category in February, declining only at grocery stores and furniture retailers, each decreasing 1%.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
Although the changes apply to Canada, the issue resonates in the United States, where the Postal Service has also warned about declining letter mail, rising delivery costs, and the growing financial strain of maintaining universal service.
—Sam Stevenson, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
And while a majority of people trust local news organizations, that trust is declining, according to Pew.
—Stacey Barchenger, AZCentral.com, 1 Apr. 2026
While the data show overall birth outcomes improving — declining rates of prematurity, low birth weight, and infant mortality — disparities are still prevalent, particularly for Black women.
—Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 27 Mar. 2026
The grand jury had the options of handing up an indictment, declining to indict and issuing a report known as a presentment.
—Alexandra Glorioso, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Should investors begin to anticipate a future change to the Fed's approach, longer-term rates could start declining in advance.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
While pruning, remove any winter damage, along with dead and declining growths, to allow new shoots to reform the plant.
—Tom MacCubbin, orlandosentinel.com, 6 Mar. 2021
In order to reopen, counties must demonstrate declining prevalence of COVID-19, testing ability of 30 tests per 10,000 residents per week, contact tracing and isolation facilities.
—Fox News, 15 May 2020
During replanting, remove dead and declining portions, including old roots.
—Tom MacCubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, 26 May 2018
The team then built mathematical models using the same data to assess how declining immunity might affect the susceptibility of the U.S. population.
—Roni Dengler, Science | AAAS, 21 Mar. 2018
According to a new analysis by the McKinsey Global Institute, 81 percent of the United States population is in an income bracket with flat or declining income over the last decade.
—Neil Irwin, New York Times, 6 Aug. 2016
Noun
Reports showing inflation and unemployment declining have subsequently been released, and a nominee for the Federal Reserve chairman role has since been announced.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026
Verb
European luxury is entering a high-stakes first-quarter reporting period as sentiment has taken a decisive hit, just as many of the sector's big names were nearing a turning point after years of declining sales.
—Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 2 Apr. 2026
The Royal Navy has shrunk dramatically since the Cold War ended, with combat-ready ships declining from 166 in 1975 to 66 in 2025, following decades of military spending cuts.
—Pan Pylas, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2026
Retail sales climbed across nearly every category in February, declining only at grocery stores and furniture retailers, each decreasing 1%.
—Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 1 Apr. 2026
Although the changes apply to Canada, the issue resonates in the United States, where the Postal Service has also warned about declining letter mail, rising delivery costs, and the growing financial strain of maintaining universal service.
—Sam Stevenson, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Apr. 2026
And while a majority of people trust local news organizations, that trust is declining, according to Pew.
—Stacey Barchenger, AZCentral.com, 1 Apr. 2026
While the data show overall birth outcomes improving — declining rates of prematurity, low birth weight, and infant mortality — disparities are still prevalent, particularly for Black women.
—Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 27 Mar. 2026
The grand jury had the options of handing up an indictment, declining to indict and issuing a report known as a presentment.
—Alexandra Glorioso, Miami Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Should investors begin to anticipate a future change to the Fed's approach, longer-term rates could start declining in advance.
—Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 26 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for declining
Noun
-
Estrogen decline is linked to higher total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL), and triglycerides.—
Amy Brownstein,
Verywell Health,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Microsoft saw its stock fall 23% over the first quarter, more than the 7% decline of the tech-heavy NASDAQ, marking the worst quarter for its share price since 2008.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In addition to the DUI, Woods faces additional charges for refusing the urine test.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
He was jailed on a count of DUI after refusing to take a urine test, which carries an additional charge.—
Jessica Schladebeck,
New York Daily News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Insurance kept denying me anyway.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Chawinga is known for her help-defense — denying passes to players in those spaces, or even closing down the player sending in such crosses.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
-
All of this comes at a time when the market has greater appetite for larger scale deals, despite Lauder’s falling stock price.—
Kathryn Hopkins,
Footwear News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
First, can spores and nutrients in a solid form be mixed in a workable concrete without deteriorating it?—
Srishti Gupta,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Mar. 2026
-
The alert, issued Monday morning, warns residents in Sunriver, Camp Sherman, Sisters and La Pine to prepare for dangerous travel and rapidly deteriorating conditions once the heavy snow strikes.—
Anna Skinner,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Consumers can also look for savings at home by decreasing energy costs—for instance, by keeping the air conditioner at a higher temperature.—
Austin Carter,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Rather than decreasing the volume of betting, this restriction weakens legal operators by removing the clearest signals consumers have about which platforms are regulated and safe.—
Cláudia Nunes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Continue reading … HIKING HORROR — Woman dies after plunging from 60-foot cliff at popular national park.—
,
FOXNews.com,
31 Mar. 2026
-
This winter, the New York metro area also endured one of its longest stretches of extreme cold in eight to 10 years, with wind chills plunging below zero and prompting warnings for frostbite and hypothermia risk, according to meteorologists and NWS alerts.—
Anna Commander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 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
Cite this Entry
“Declining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/declining. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.
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