decline

1 a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body her sad decline from a robust athlete to an old woman with arthritis Synonyms debilitation, decay, decaying, declension, degeneration, descent, deterioration, ebbing, enfeeblement, weakening Related Words atrophy; exhaustion; drooping, flagging, limping; regression, relapse, setback Near Antonyms invigoration, strengthening; progress; rejuvenation, rejuvenescence Antonyms comeback, improvement, rally, recovery, recuperation, rehabilitation, revitalization, snapback

2 a change to a lower state or level the decline of the Roman Empire Synonyms decadence, declension, declination, degeneracy, degeneration, degradation, dégringolade, descent, deterioration, devolution, downfall, downgrade, ebb, eclipse, fall Related Words dark age, nadir, sunset; decay, rotting, spoiling; breakup, crumbling, decomposition, disintegration, dissolution; abasement, debasement; depreciation, lessening; decimation, demolishment, demolition, desolation, destruction, havoc, ruin, ruination; abatement, decrease, decrement, de-escalation, deflation, diminishment, diminution, dip, downslide, downtrend, downturn, drop, drop-off, falloff, loss, lowering, reduction, sag, shrinkage, slip, slump Near Antonyms advancement, development, evolution, growth; blossoming, flourishing, flowering; renewal, restoration, revitalization; heightening; accretion, accrual, addendum, addition, augmentation, boost, enhancement, gain, increase, increment, raise, supplement Antonyms ascent, rise, upswing

3 a downward slope the bicyclist lost control on the unexpectedly steep decline Synonyms declension, declivity, descent, dip, downgrade, downhill, fall, hang, hanging Related Words basin, depression, hollow Near Antonyms glacis, grade, gradient, hill, inclination, incline, lean, pitch, rake, tilt Antonyms acclivity, ascent, rise, upgrade, uphill, uprise

4 a loss of status the engagement at the small club was an unmistakable sign of the rock band's decline Synonyms comedown, dégringolade, demise, descent, down, downfall, fall, flameout, GötterdämmerungRelated Words breakdown, burnout, collapse, crash, meltdown, ruin, undoing; defeat, disappointment, reversal, setback; bottom, nadir; abasement, disgrace, humiliationNear Antonyms advance, headway, progress; flower, heyday, primeAntonyms aggrandizement, ascent, exaltation, rise, up

5 the amount by which something is lessened a huge decline in the value of the artwork after its authenticity was questioned Synonyms abatement, decrease, decrement, dent, depletion, depression, diminishment, diminution, drop, drop-off, fall, falloff, loss, reduction, shrinkage, step-downRelated Words deduction, subtraction; downturn, slip, slump; curtailment, cut, cutback, retrenchment, shorteningNear Antonyms accretion, accrual, accumulation, addition, supplement; continuation, extension; upswing, uptrend, upturnAntonyms boost, enlargement, gain, increase, increment, raise, rise, step-up, uptick

1 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 balk (at), deselect, disapprove, negative, nix, pass, pass up, refuse, reject, reprobate, repudiate, spurn, throw out, throw over, turn down Related Words blow off, disdain, rebuff, scorn, scout, shoot down; overrule, veto; forbid, prohibit, proscribe; dismiss, ignore; abstain (from), forbear, refrain (from); deny, disavow, disclaim, dispute, gainsay; stick; abjure, forswear (also foreswear), recant, renounce, retract, take back, unsay, withdraw; avoid, bypass, detour; contradict, deny, disown, negate; controvert, disagree (with), disprove, dispute, rebut, refute; back down, back off, backtrack; disallow, recall, renege, revoke Phrases turn one's back on Near Antonyms condone, countenance, swallow, tolerate; adopt, embrace, receive, take, welcome; accede, acquiesce, agree, assent, consent; choose, handpick, select; espouse, support Antonyms accept, agree (to), approve

2 to be unwilling to grant declined our request to hold a party Synonyms deny, disallow, disapprove, negative, nix, refuse, reject, reprobate, withholdRelated Words ban, enjoin, forbid, prohibit, proscribe, veto; rebuff, repel, spurn; check, constrain, curb, hold, keep, repress, restrain, restrict; balk (at), hinder, impede, obstructNear Antonyms afford, furnish, give, provide, supply; authorize, commission, license (also licence); accede (to), acquiesce, agree (to), assent (to), consent (to), warrant; accord, sanction, vouchsafeAntonyms allow, concede, grant, let, OK (or okay), permit

3 to go to a lower level especially abruptly new-car sales declined to their lowest level in years Synonyms crash, crater, drop, descend, dip, dive, fall, lower, nose-dive, plummet, plunge, sink, skid, tumbleRelated Words abate, decrease, de-escalate, die (down), diminish, droop, dwindle, ebb, lessen, let up, moderate, subside, taper off, wane; recede, retreatNear Antonyms accumulate, balloon, build, burgeon (also bourgeon), enlarge, escalate, expand, grow, increase, intensify, mushroom, pick up, snowball, swell, waxAntonyms arise, ascend, lift, mount, rise, soar, spike, up

4 to become worse or of less value his reputation as a writer began to decline not long after his death Synonyms atrophy, crumble, decay, deteriorate, degenerate, descend, devolve, ebb, regress, retrograde, rot, sink, worsenRelated Words abate, de-escalate, diminish, downsize, dwindle, recede, wane; break down, corrupt, decompose, degrade, dilapidate, disintegrate, molder, putrefy; sour, spoil; lessen, lower, reduce; debilitate, undermine; droop, fail, fall, flag, lag, languish, run down, sag, slip, waste (away), weaken, wiltNear Antonyms better, upgrade; enhance, enrich, fortify, heighten, intensify, strengthen; advance, develop, march, proceed, progressAntonyms ameliorate, improve, meliorate

5 to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually the winds should decline as soon as the cold front passes Synonyms abate, decrease, de-escalate, die (away or down or out), diminish, drain (away), drop (off), dwindle, ease, ebb, fall, fall away, lessen, let up, lower, moderate, pall, phase down, ratchet (down) also rachet (down), recede, relent, remit, shrink, subside, taper, taper off, waneRelated Words compress, condense, constrict, contract; evaporate, fade (away), fritter (away), give out, melt (away), peter (out), tail (off), vanish; slacken, slow (down); alleviate, relax; flag, sink, weaken; cave (in), collapse, deflateNear Antonyms appear, emerge, show up; blow up, distend, elongate, lengthenAntonyms accumulate, balloon, build, burgeon (also bourgeon), enlarge, escalate, expand, grow, increase, intensify, mount, mushroom, pick up, rise, snowball, soar, swell, wax

6 to lead or extend downward the bike path declines toward the riverbank and then follows the river for several miles Synonyms descend, dip, drop, fall, plunge, sinkRelated Words angle, cant, cock, heel, incline, lean, list, recline, slant, slope, tilt, tipNear Antonyms even, flatten, level, plane, smooth, straightenAntonyms arise, ascend, climb, mount, rise, uprise, upsweep, upturn