1
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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2
as in to deny
to be unwilling to grant
declined our request to hold a party
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3
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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4
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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5
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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6
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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1
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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2
as in declination
a change to a lower state or level
the decline of the Roman Empire
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3
as in downhill
a downward slope
the bicyclist lost control on the unexpectedly steep decline
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4
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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5
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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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of decline
Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 30 June 2025
Chatterjee notes that this is a brand with strong retention but declining acquisition potential due to eroding external perception.
—Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
Bala Sathyanarayanan, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
Economists surveyed by FactSet forecast a decline of 0.7% in total sales in May from April after a gain of just 0.1% in the prior month.
—Medora Lee, USA Today, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for decline
Verb
Three players ultimately declined to participate this time around: Ken Griffey Jr., Frank Thomas and Barry Bonds.
—Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 30 June 2025
Chatterjee notes that this is a brand with strong retention but declining acquisition potential due to eroding external perception.
—Jeff Fromm, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025
Noun
Use predictive modeling and flight-risk signals (like decline in engagement) to surface attrition threats.
—Bala Sathyanarayanan, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025
Economists surveyed by FactSet forecast a decline of 0.7% in total sales in May from April after a gain of just 0.1% in the prior month.
—Medora Lee, USA Today, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for decline
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decline
Verb
-
The Trump administration has tested the limits of this system by refusing to spend money that Congress had previously allocated.—
Camila Domonoske,
NPR,
25 June 2025
-
Pallone added Kennedy has refused to take public input about vaccines, including his decision to overhaul a vaccine advisory panel, called the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP.—
Ken Alltucker,
USA Today,
25 June 2025
Verb
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But the company denies claims that its equipment sparked the 2019 fire, which tore through Sylmar, Porter Ranch and Granada Hills — all suburbs of Los Angeles — burning 8,799 acres.—
Melody Petersen,
Los Angeles Times,
28 June 2025
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To many in the transgender community, the policy also felt like another attack by the current administration to erase them from public spaces and deny their existence.—
Kathleen Wong,
USA Today,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
Monthly spending has also fallen by almost $20 year-over-year.—
Jon Kirchner,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
-
When her moment came to walk the red carpet three days later, a radiant Cassie held hands with Combs, her hair styled to fall just over her injured eyebrow and eye.—
Laura Trujillo,
USA Today,
27 June 2025
Verb
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The Astros traded Pressly as a pure salary dump, influenced in part by his deteriorating relationship with general manager Dana Brown.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
28 June 2025
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Kenya’s deteriorating economy — youth unemployment stands at 67% — has turned the country into a tinderbox: Yesterday’s protests were preceded by violent demonstrations against the killing of a blogger while in police custody, leaving many seeking answers.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
The top three contributors to hydroplaning are: Vehicle speed - When a vehicle's speed increases, the tire-traction grip and ability to control the vehicle decreases.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
25 June 2025
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The three main causes of hydroplaning are: Vehicle speed - When a vehicle's speed increases, the tire-traction grip and ability to control the vehicle decreases.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
25 June 2025
Verb
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Several large rocks and boulders plunged from the overhang at the top of a popular Utah waterfall — and just barely missed a family swimming below, video shows.—
Brooke Baitinger,
Sacbee.com,
26 June 2025
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Macroeconomic uncertainties also pose a threat; for instance, during the 2022 inflation crisis, QuantumScape’s stock plunged 85% from its highs, far exceeding the S&P 500’s 25% decline.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
Noun
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Most of the time, the summer slide—in other words, the deterioration of intellectual skills gained during the school year, during a period when kids are on breaks—is associated with a student’s reading skills, says Alexander.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
25 June 2025
-
The disease causes deterioration of nerve cells in the brain, a process that sets off a series of worsening symptoms.—
Jack Knudson,
Discover Magazine,
19 June 2025
Noun
-
Where corporate criminal investigations resolve without filing any criminal charges (through a declination or deferred prosecution agreement), companies should expect victims to still voice their views loudly to the Justice Department and beyond.—
Lisa Zornberg,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
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The changing declination also defines the daily arc that the sun takes across the sky, thereby accounting for the length of daylight.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
6 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decline.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decline. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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