as in bowing
bending downward or forward
the declining flowers perked up with the gentle rainfall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
as in decline
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Dissimilar Words
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
Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Energy demands around the world are rising, and with the increasing impacts of climate change and the declining efficiency of existing infrastructure, the situation is likely to worsen.
—Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
The announcement signals a significant push to further expand charter schools in South Florida, a move critics warn could drain resources from traditional public schools already grappling with declining enrollment.
—Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
The company has experienced six consecutive quarters of declining same-store sales, a metric that examines performance at individual locations over time.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 25 Sep. 2025
Four responded directly, and at least two others commented on social media, with the vast majority declining to respond to whether Tylenol should be avoided.
—Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 24 Sep. 2025
This correlates to declining fertility rates which have fallen precipitously in recent years — the UK just reported its lowest on record.
—Jennifer Moss, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2025
Still, any further restrictions on shots by ACIP could have trickle-down effects, further depressing already declining immunization rates for vaccine-preventable diseases and raising the risk of outbreaks.
—Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2025
However, there are potential positive catalysts nearing in the future, including declining fuel costs and an anticipated interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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
Since then, the administration has, while declining to publicly state its position as regime change, signaled clear interest in removing Maduro from power.
—Shelby Talcott, semafor.com, 25 Sep. 2025
Energy demands around the world are rising, and with the increasing impacts of climate change and the declining efficiency of existing infrastructure, the situation is likely to worsen.
—Lauren Giella, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
The announcement signals a significant push to further expand charter schools in South Florida, a move critics warn could drain resources from traditional public schools already grappling with declining enrollment.
—Miami Herald, 25 Sep. 2025
The company has experienced six consecutive quarters of declining same-store sales, a metric that examines performance at individual locations over time.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 25 Sep. 2025
Four responded directly, and at least two others commented on social media, with the vast majority declining to respond to whether Tylenol should be avoided.
—Ramsey Touchberry, The Washington Examiner, 24 Sep. 2025
This correlates to declining fertility rates which have fallen precipitously in recent years — the UK just reported its lowest on record.
—Jennifer Moss, Fortune, 24 Sep. 2025
Still, any further restrictions on shots by ACIP could have trickle-down effects, further depressing already declining immunization rates for vaccine-preventable diseases and raising the risk of outbreaks.
—Annika Kim Constantino, CNBC, 18 Sep. 2025
However, there are potential positive catalysts nearing in the future, including declining fuel costs and an anticipated interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve.
—Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for declining
Verb
-
Advertisement Jimmy’s quick return is not proof of corporate backbone—massive station groups Sinclair and NexStar are still refusing to air the show.—
Lizz Winstead,
Time,
27 Sep. 2025
-
Earlier this month, another passenger was dragged off a plane by police for allegedly refusing to wear a seatbelt.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
27 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Cohen previously revealed there would be some new faces when the Bravo series returned, denying that the show would be cancelled.—
Rachel McRady,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
-
What struck me most is how Bertrand has survived by embracing, not denying, its history.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Meanwhile, Corey Feldman and Jenna Johnson, along with Baron Davis and Britt Stewart, were sent home after falling short in judges’ scores and viewer votes.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
-
After falling behind by five runs, the Mets scored five in the fifth, one inning before learning of a significant opportunity in front of them.—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Fed last week lowered borrowing costs for the first time since December to prevent the labor market from deteriorating, according to Chair Jerome Powell in a post-meeting news conference.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Just getting back to fight again requires constant focus, and the cycle of death can be mentally deteriorating.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The gain, however, was short lived, and the write-off percentage started decreasing by 20% annual increments in 2023.—
Hayley Cuccinello,
CNBC,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Researchers said despite having a conservation status of least concern, there is evidence that its populations are decreasing.—
Lauren Liebhaber,
Miami Herald,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
On Halloween of 2022, just weeks into the new school year, senior Ehni Ler Htoo was making his way through the halls of Proctor High School in Utica, New York, when a fellow student lurched at him from behind, repeatedly plunging a 9-inch hunting knife into his back.—
Tonya Simpson,
ABC News,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Skyrocketing housing costs may be swaying Americans from having children, contributing to plunging birth rates in the country, data suggests.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The rise in premium leisure travel post-pandemic has replaced some of the decline in corporate travel.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Researchers have found that the Mediterranean and DASH diets protect against cognitive decline.—
Patty Weasler,
Verywell Health,
24 Sep. 2025
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 30 Sep. 2025.
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