Synonyms of declined

declined 1 of 2

adjective

as in bowing

bending downward or forward

we awaited our punishment with declined heads

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bowing
• nodding
• bowed
• weeping
• falling
• declining
• descending
• hanging
• dangling
• hung
• sagging
• inclining
• floppy
• drooping
• stooping
• descendant
• pendulous
• suspended
• sinking
• droopy
• pendent
• dipping
• limp
• slumping

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rigid
• erect
• upright
• stiff
• elevated
• inflexible
• unbending
• raised
• upraised

declined

2 of 2

verb

past tense of decline

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

• refused
• rejected
• denied
• ignored
• passed
• withdrew
• vetoed
• dismissed
• disputed
• spurned
• disapproved
• avoided
• nixed
• forbade
• repudiated
• balked (at)
• passed up
• turned down
• threw over
• deselected
• threw out
• reprobated
• rebuffed
• negatived
• overruled
• disdained
• prohibited
• scouted
• turned one's back on
• retracted
• blew off
• scorned
• renounced
• recalled
• proscribed
• revoked
• contradicted
• disavowed
• shot down
• recanted
• forbore
• refuted
• disclaimed
• abstained (from)
• gainsaid
• took back
• refrained (from)
• stuck
• abjured
• rebutted
• backtracked
• bypassed
• detoured
• disagreed (with)
• disowned
• disproved
• negated
• forswore
• disallowed
• reneged
• controverted
• backed off
• backed down
• unsaid

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• accepted
• approved
• agreed (to)
• received
• adopted
• took
• agreed
• tolerated
• welcomed
• swallowed
• embraced
• consented
• selected
• acquiesced
• chose
• condoned
• countenanced
• supported
• acceded
• assented
• espoused
• handpicked

2

as in denied

to be unwilling to grant

declined our request to hold a party

Synonyms & Similar Words

• refused
• denied
• rejected
• withheld
• disapproved
• disallowed
• forbade
• vetoed
• nixed
• prohibited
• restricted
• rebuffed
• kept
• negatived
• banned
• reprobated
• enjoined
• spurned
• proscribed
• checked
• restrained
• repelled
• constrained
• held
• hindered
• curbed
• impeded
• obstructed
• repressed
• balked (at)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• granted
• permitted
• allowed
• let
• provided
• conceded
• gave
• supplied
• afforded
• furnished
• authorized
• commissioned
• licensed
• acquiesced
• agreed (to)
• warranted
• consented (to)
• accorded
• sanctioned
• OK'd
• acceded (to)
• assented (to)
• vouchsafed

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

• fell
• plunged
• dipped
• tumbled
• dropped
• plummeted
• decreased
• sank
• skidded
• descended
• lowered
• crashed
• dived
• cratered
• retreated
• diminished
• nose-dived
• subsided
• dwindled
• waned
• died (down)
• ebbed
• lessened
• drooped
• moderated
• abated
• receded
• tapered off
• let up
• de-escalated

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rose
• lifted
• arose
• soared
• mounted
• ascended
• increased
• grew
• expanded
• built
• spiked
• upped
• intensified
• accumulated
• escalated
• swelled
• enlarged
• picked up
• waxed
• ballooned
• mushroomed
• burgeoned
• snowballed

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

• deteriorated
• worsened
• descended
• crumbled
• diminished
• sank
• ebbed
• degenerated
• fell
• regressed
• devolved
• weakened
• rotted
• retrograded
• atrophied
• decayed
• waned
• dwindled
• sagged
• disintegrated
• receded
• reduced
• went to pot
• slipped
• went to seed
• downsized
• degraded
• soured
• decomposed
• undermined
• failed
• abated
• lessened
• lowered
• dilapidated
• corrupted
• lagged
• languished
• putrefied
• de-escalated
• drooped
• flagged
• spoiled
• debilitated
• wasted (away)
• moldered
• broke down
• ran down
• wilted

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• improved
• upgraded
• ameliorated
• intensified
• enhanced
• proceeded
• developed
• meliorated
• strengthened
• heightened
• enriched
• progressed
• bettered
• fortified
• marched
• advanced

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

• decreased
• diminished
• fell
• subsided
• shrank
• eased
• vanished
• ebbed
• waned
• dwindled
• dropped (off)
• receded
• relented
• lowered
• moderated
• drained (away)
• died (away or down or out)
• lessened
• fell away
• weakened
• tapered
• tapered off
• remitted
• let up
• palled
• abated
• evaporated
• de-escalated
• ratcheted (down)
• racheted (down)
• phased down
• contracted
• compressed
• faded (away)
• melted (away)
• collapsed
• slowed (down)
• condensed
• slackened
• petered (out)
• alleviated
• constricted
• relaxed
• tailed (off)
• gave out
• frittered (away)
• flagged
• sank
• deflated
• caved (in)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• increased
• grew
• rose
• expanded
• built
• intensified
• soared
• accumulated
• mounted
• escalated
• swelled
• enlarged
• appeared
• emerged
• picked up
• waxed
• ballooned
• mushroomed
• burgeoned
• snowballed
• showed up
• lengthened
• blew up
• elongated
• distended

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

• fell
• plunged
• descended
• dropped
• dipped
• sank
• tilted
• leaned
• inclined
• tipped
• listed
• sloped
• angled
• cocked
• slanted
• reclined
• canted
• heeled

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rose
• climbed
• arose
• mounted
• ascended
• upturned
• flattened
• straightened
• smoothed
• uprose
• leveled
• planed
• upswept
• evened

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of declined

Verb

In the most recent year of accounting, homelessness increased slightly in the city but declined significantly in Raman’s council district. — Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026

The Post also sought comment on Alex’s allegations; when the agency asked for Alex’s personal information, the newspaper declined to provide it, citing his safety concerns. — Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 7 Nov. 2026

Bianco declined to say how much the companies paid to acquire the property. — Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 7 Nov. 2026

Brookshire Farms reopens with thousands of free pumpkins Missing out on the final days of pumpkin season was an enormous financial hit for Brookshire Farms — but Callaway declined to go into detail. — Hannah Poukish, Sacbee.com, 7 Nov. 2026

The school said his termination stemmed from performance concerns, including issues leadership had raised with him before his report, but declined to provide specifics, citing personnel confidentiality and pending litigation. — Tori Mason, CBS News, 7 Nov. 2026

Netanyahu received the backing of 46 lawmakers, while seven members of the ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party declined to endorse either candidate. — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2026

JPMorgan declined Fortune’s request for comment on the matter. — Morgan Chittum, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2026

Attorneys representing James Barbier, the now-elderly Missouri man charged with first-degree murder in the 1966 stabbing death of 18-year-old Karen Snider in Calumet City, declined to call any witnesses before resting their case Friday. — Evy Lewis, Chicago Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026