as in bowing
bending downward or forward
we awaited our punishment with declined heads
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in refused
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in denied
to be unwilling to grant
declined our request to hold a party
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in fell
to go to a lower level especially abruptly
new-car sales declined to their lowest level in years
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in deteriorated
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
5
as in decreased
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
6
as in plunged
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of declined
Amir Mahmoud, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2025
Owens’ attorney, Joshua Kolsrud, who is representing her in the criminal allegations involving Echard and, now, the Scottsdale man, declined to comment, citing her pending criminal trial, which is scheduled for January 2026.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2025
Eight victims are being treated at hospitals but listed as stable and two other victims with minor injuries declined treatment at the scene.
—NPR, 8 Nov. 2025
Her fiancé declined to speak to media, the New York Post reported.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
Solera executives declined to discuss the offer with BusinessDen.
—Justin Wingerter, Denver Post, 8 Nov. 2025
Waukesha County Assistant District Attorney Nicole Kane also declined to comment post-sentencing.
—Jim Riccioli, jsonline.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has declined across much of the United States this year, according to new federal data.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025
But the league declined to say this week whether its investigation was completed before the Heat traded for him.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2025
Verb
Dillard's declined to comment for this article.
—Amir Mahmoud, Arkansas Online, 9 Nov. 2025
Owens’ attorney, Joshua Kolsrud, who is representing her in the criminal allegations involving Echard and, now, the Scottsdale man, declined to comment, citing her pending criminal trial, which is scheduled for January 2026.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2025
Eight victims are being treated at hospitals but listed as stable and two other victims with minor injuries declined treatment at the scene.
—NPR, 8 Nov. 2025
Her fiancé declined to speak to media, the New York Post reported.
—Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025
Solera executives declined to discuss the offer with BusinessDen.
—Justin Wingerter, Denver Post, 8 Nov. 2025
Waukesha County Assistant District Attorney Nicole Kane also declined to comment post-sentencing.
—Jim Riccioli, jsonline.com, 8 Nov. 2025
Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has declined across much of the United States this year, according to new federal data.
—Aliss Higham, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025
But the league declined to say this week whether its investigation was completed before the Heat traded for him.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 25 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for declined
Verb
-
Google, Meta, Microsoft’s LinkedIn, and Elon Musk’s X have all delayed, adjusted, or flat-out refused to launch AI products because of the bloc’s laws.—
Andrew Nusca,
Fortune,
10 Nov. 2025
-
And the defense refused to yield.—
Ira Gorawara,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
At the time, ICE had requested local officials hold him in jail, but that request was denied, the affidavit said.—
Allison Gordon,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The agency that was set to investigate before being denied access to evidence and case materials is called the Force Investigations Unit of the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, part of the Department of Public Safety.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The at-bats were brief and uneventful, the opposite of the approach that carried Toronto to this stage and felled Snell in Game 1.—
Andy McCullough,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
-
That says a lot about the 2025 Red Sox, who were a top offensive team in many metrics, but were also felled by their bats in crucial spots throughout the year and postseason.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But just an hour later, the wife received a call from the home telling her that his condition had deteriorated and he was being sent to Hialeah Hospital.—
Kevin G. Hall,
Miami Herald,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The judge said the missing video could have shown whether deputies or medical staff had checked on Schuck or ignored him as his condition deteriorated.—
Kelly Davis,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Content licensing revenues decreased 27% to $59 million primarily due to the timing and availability of deliveries in the period.—
Dade Hayes,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
-
The median sale price for detached homes remained flat at $650,000, while attached homes decreased by 3% to $388,220.—
Sara B. Hansen,
Denver Post,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Erdoğan changed course in 2023 and brought in new central-bank leadership who jacked interest rates to nearly 50 percent and plunged the country into a recession in a desperate effort to restore credibility.—
Rogé Karma,
The Atlantic,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Shares have plunged more than 20% over the course of those two days.—
Steve Kopack,
NBC news,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
James O’Donoghue, a planetary scientist with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, likened our planet’s tilting phenomenon to a nodding head.—
Aylin Woodward,
WSJ,
21 Dec. 2021
Verb
-
Still, this is early days, and there have been similar drugs which looked promising at the beginning but were later rejected due to safety concerns, Nadar said.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
-
That can feel quite personal, and maybe the parents feel rejected too.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
8 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Declined.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/declined. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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