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
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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
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Recent Examples of decline
Jim Osman,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
Spring cited steady traffic in stores despite the nation’s declining consumer confidence.
—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
25 June 2026
Chaewon Chung,
Sacbee.com,
24 June 2026
Prior to Tuesday’s selloff, Micron’s average price target of $1,153 implied a decline of 5% over the next 12 months.
—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for decline
Verb
Investors must focus on forward-looking changes and a clear path for value realization, understanding that a declining stock isn't safer if its intrinsic value falls faster.
—
Jim Osman,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2026
Spring cited steady traffic in stores despite the nation’s declining consumer confidence.
—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
25 June 2026
Noun
Carroz is also expected to address the district’s long-running enrollment decline, with student enrollment falling from about 37,000 in 2008 to just over 24,000 today.
—
Chaewon Chung,
Sacbee.com,
24 June 2026
Prior to Tuesday’s selloff, Micron’s average price target of $1,153 implied a decline of 5% over the next 12 months.
—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
24 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for decline
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decline
Verb
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While prosecution witnesses have refused to delineate between the Lachman and Palisades blazes, Haney has repeatedly described them as two distinct incidents that ignited days apart.
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After a May debate, Smullen refused to shake his opponent's hand.
Verb
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That agreement set a 60-day period for negotiations on key issues, including the future of Tehran’s nuclear program amid concerns that Iran wants to use it for military purposes, a claim the country denies.
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Pitt's request for possible sanctions, or monetary fines, in the legal proceeding was denied, per court documents.
Verb
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Scheffler, who fell nine shots behind with a pair of bogeys at the start, shot 32 on the back nine by chipping in from 65 feet on the 14th for the start of three straight birdies.
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Overall homicides in the United States have fallen for four consecutive years, according to FBI data analyzed by the Washington Post.
Verb
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For the decades after the historic Old Soldiers’ Home was shut down in the 1970s, the two-thirds of the campus north of Wilshire Boulevard remained a collection of vacant deteriorating buildings and residential programs for physical and mental health recovery.
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However, the strategy itself has been flawed, often prioritizing roads in excellent condition while allowing moderately deteriorating streets to fail completely.
Verb
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This significantly minimizes cybersecurity risks by decreasing the number of outside players that may have access to the data through cloud or hardware infrastructure.
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As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases.
Verb
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Designed with a plunging neckline, modest bum coverage, and compressive fabric with UPF 50 sun protection, the elegant silhouette offers rich-girl vacation energy that could easily double as a bodysuit with shorts.
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Oil stockpiles at the critical oil hub of Cushing, Oklahoma, have plunged to the bare minimum of what is needed to operate.
Noun
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The National Institute of Standards and Technology said long-term corrosion and the failure of multiple slab-to-column connections likely contributed to a progressive collapse after weeks of structural deterioration.
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Heston is at his most gleefully cynical as Robert Thorn, a police detective who lives and works in a New York City decimated by environmental deterioration and dwindling resources.
Noun
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The Phillies, off to an even worse start at 9-19, relieved Rob Thomson of his managerial duties Tuesday, and with Cora’s declination, named bench coach Don Mattingly interim skipper.
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The declinations came as the DOJ reassigned and cut prosecutors working on environmental cases.
Cite this Entry
“Decline.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decline. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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