DECLINE Synonyms: 444 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'decline' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of decline are refuse , reject , repudiate , and spurn . While all these words mean "to turn away by not accepting, receiving, or considering," decline often implies courteous refusal especially of offers or invitations. // declined his party's nomination

Q: When might 'refuse' be a better fit than 'decline'?

While in some cases nearly identical to decline , refuse suggests more positiveness or ungraciousness and often implies the denial of something asked for. // refused to lend them the money

Q: When would 'reject' be a good substitute for 'decline'?

The words reject and decline can be used in similar contexts, but reject implies a peremptory refusal by sending away or discarding. // rejected the manuscript as unpublishable

Q: When is it sensible to use 'repudiate' instead of 'decline'?

The synonyms repudiate and decline are sometimes interchangeable, but repudiate implies a casting off or disowning as untrue, unauthorized, or unworthy of acceptance. // teenagers who repudiate the values of their parents

Q: Where would 'spurn' be a reasonable alternative to 'decline'?

While the synonyms spurn and decline are close in meaning, spurn stresses contempt or disdain in rejection or repudiation. // spurned his overtures of friendship

Q: How is the word 'decline' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of decline are refuse , reject , repudiate , and spurn . While all these words mean "to turn away by not accepting, receiving, or considering," decline often implies courteous refusal especially of offers or invitations. // declined his party's nomination

Q: When might 'refuse' be a better fit than 'decline'?

While in some cases nearly identical to decline , refuse suggests more positiveness or ungraciousness and often implies the denial of something asked for. // refused to lend them the money

Q: When would 'reject' be a good substitute for 'decline'?

The words reject and decline can be used in similar contexts, but reject implies a peremptory refusal by sending away or discarding. // rejected the manuscript as unpublishable

Q: When is it sensible to use 'repudiate' instead of 'decline'?

The synonyms repudiate and decline are sometimes interchangeable, but repudiate implies a casting off or disowning as untrue, unauthorized, or unworthy of acceptance. // teenagers who repudiate the values of their parents

Q: Where would 'spurn' be a reasonable alternative to 'decline'?

While the synonyms spurn and decline are close in meaning, spurn stresses contempt or disdain in rejection or repudiation. // spurned his overtures of friendship

decline 1 of 2

verb

di-ˈklīn

Definition of decline next

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to deny

to be unwilling to grant declined our request to hold a party

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to fall

to go to a lower level especially abruptly new-car sales declined to their lowest level in years

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to deteriorate

to become worse or of less value his reputation as a writer began to decline not long after his death

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to decrease

to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually the winds should decline as soon as the cold front passes

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to plunge

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

decline

2 of 2

noun

di-ˈklīn

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in declination

a change to a lower state or level the decline of the Roman Empire

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in downhill

a downward slope the bicyclist lost control on the unexpectedly steep decline

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in demise

a loss of status the engagement at the small club was an unmistakable sign of the rock band's decline

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in decrease

the amount by which something is lessened a huge decline in the value of the artwork after its authenticity was questioned

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word decline different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of decline are refuse, reject, repudiate, and spurn. While all these words mean "to turn away by not accepting, receiving, or considering," decline often implies courteous refusal especially of offers or invitations.

declined his party's nomination

When might refuse be a better fit than decline?

While in some cases nearly identical to decline, refuse suggests more positiveness or ungraciousness and often implies the denial of something asked for.

refused to lend them the money

When would reject be a good substitute for decline?

The words reject and decline can be used in similar contexts, but reject implies a peremptory refusal by sending away or discarding.

rejected the manuscript as unpublishable

When is it sensible to use repudiate instead of decline?

The synonyms repudiate and decline are sometimes interchangeable, but repudiate implies a casting off or disowning as untrue, unauthorized, or unworthy of acceptance.

teenagers who repudiate the values of their parents

Where would spurn be a reasonable alternative to decline?

While the synonyms spurn and decline are close in meaning, spurn stresses contempt or disdain in rejection or repudiation.

spurned his overtures of friendship

How is the word decline different from other verbs like it?

declined his party's nomination

When might refuse be a better fit than decline?

While in some cases nearly identical to decline, refuse suggests more positiveness or ungraciousness and often implies the denial of something asked for.

refused to lend them the money

When would reject be a good substitute for decline?

The words reject and decline can be used in similar contexts, but reject implies a peremptory refusal by sending away or discarding.

rejected the manuscript as unpublishable

When is it sensible to use repudiate instead of decline?

The synonyms repudiate and decline are sometimes interchangeable, but repudiate implies a casting off or disowning as untrue, unauthorized, or unworthy of acceptance.

teenagers who repudiate the values of their parents

Where would spurn be a reasonable alternative to decline?

While the synonyms spurn and decline are close in meaning, spurn stresses contempt or disdain in rejection or repudiation.

spurned his overtures of friendship

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of decline

Verb

Nineteen people were evaluated for injuries, including 11 people who declined to be taken to the hospital and eight who were transported to nearby area hospitals. —

Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026 Trinity Health of New England declined a request to speak with Hanks. —

Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 16 Apr. 2026

Noun

If real estate values falter in a community, the decline could imperil a crucial revenue stream from property taxes for cities, counties, regional agencies, and school districts. —

George Avalos, Mercury News, 15 Apr. 2026 In the first quarter of 2026, California saw a 14 percent decline in filming in the state even as its production spend inched up 2 percent, according to a report from ProdPro. —

Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 15 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for decline

Recent Examples of Synonyms for decline

Verb

She was commanded multiple times to drop the knife, but refused and cut the toddler's face.

— Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026
Earlier, media reports said all students were evacuated and police special operations units were deployed after the assailant refused to surrender.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 Apr. 2026

Definition of refuse

Browse Nearby Words

declinations

decline

declined

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Decline.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decline. Accessed 19 Apr. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of decline

verb

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on decline

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

nugatory

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Are You Misusing These 10 Common Words?

5 Verbal Slip Ups and Language Mistakes

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

The Opposite of Déjà Vu

The Words of the Week - Apr. 17

Was 'nervous Nellie' a Real Person?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

Popular

Are You Misusing These 10 Common Words?

The Longest Long Words List

The Opposite of Déjà Vu

Games & Quizzes