Thesaurus

deterioration, degeneration, decadence, decline mean the falling from a higher to a lower level in quality, character, or vitality. deterioration implies generally the impairment of value or usefulness.

- the deterioration of the house through neglect

degeneration stresses physical, intellectual, or especially moral retrogression.

- the degeneration of their youthful idealism into cynicism

decadence presupposes a reaching and passing the peak of development and implies a turn downward with a consequent loss in vitality or energy.

- cited love of luxury as a sign of cultural decadence

decline differs from decadence in suggesting a more markedly downward direction and greater momentum as well as more obvious evidence of deterioration.

- the meteoric decline of his career after the scandal

decline

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of decline

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 of decline

balk (at), deselect, disapprove, negative, nix, pass, pass up, refuse, reject, reprobate, repudiate, spurn, throw out, throw over, turn down

Words Related to decline

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 Synonymous with decline

turn one's back on

Near Antonyms of decline

condone, countenance, swallow, tolerate

adopt, embrace, receive, take, welcome

accede, acquiesce, agree, assent, consent

choose, handpick, select

espouse, support

Antonyms of decline

accept, agree (to), approve

2 to be unwilling to grant

declined our request to hold a party

Synonyms of decline

deny, disallow, disapprove, negative, nix, refuse, reject, reprobate, withhold

Words Related to decline

ban, enjoin, forbid, prohibit, proscribe, veto

rebuff, repel, spurn

check, constrain, curb, hold, keep, repress, restrain, restrict

balk (at), hinder, impede, obstruct

Near Antonyms of decline

afford, furnish, give, provide, supply

authorize, commission, license (also licence)

accede (to), acquiesce, agree (to), assent (to), consent (to), warrant

accord, sanction, vouchsafe

Antonyms of decline

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 of decline

crash, crater, descend, dip, dive, drop, fall, lower, nose-dive, plummet, plunge, sink, skid, tumble

Words Related to decline

abate, decrease, de-escalate, die (down), diminish, droop, dwindle, ebb, lessen, let up, moderate, subside, taper off, wane

recede, retreat

Near Antonyms of decline

accumulate, balloon, build, burgeon (also bourgeon), enlarge, escalate, expand, grow, increase, intensify, mushroom, pick up, snowball, swell, wax

Antonyms of decline

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 of decline

atrophy, crumble, decay, degenerate, descend, deteriorate, devolve, ebb, regress, retrograde, rot, sink, worsen

Words Related to decline

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, wilt

Phrases Synonymous with decline

go to pot, go to seed (or run to seed)

Near Antonyms of decline

better, upgrade

enhance, enrich, fortify, heighten, intensify, strengthen

advance, develop, march, proceed, progress

Antonyms of decline

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 of decline

abate, de-escalate, decrease, 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, wane

Words Related to decline

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, deflate

Near Antonyms of decline

appear, emerge, show up

blow up, distend, elongate, lengthen

Antonyms of decline

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 of decline

descend, dip, drop, fall, plunge, sink

Words Related to decline

angle, cant, cock, heel, incline, lean, list, recline, slant, slope, tilt, tip

Near Antonyms of decline

even, flatten, level, plane, smooth, straighten

Antonyms of decline

arise, ascend, climb, mount, rise, uprise, upsweep, upturn

Synonym Discussion of decline

decline, refuse, reject, repudiate, spurn mean to turn away by not accepting, receiving, or considering. decline often implies courteous refusal especially of offers or invitations.