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
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Recent Examples of declined
Gabrielle Coppola, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2025
But overall crime has declined, including a 30% drop in homicides, the mayor’s office said.
—Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
Garner declined to specify exactly which buildings the city is eyeing, but said one location is in midtown and another, apparently more favorable, option is downtown and near Willa Gill.
—Sofi Zeman
october 3, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2025
The city declined to confirm whether those payments were part of a severance package.
—Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 3 Oct. 2025
The committee declined to comment on Friday’s ICAO decision.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
State Attorney Jack Campbell declined to comment.
—Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025
Universal Music Group declined to comment.
—Luke Fountain, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
The Academy declined to comment.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Sep. 2025
Verb
The carmaker may announce in the coming weeks about $5 billion in fresh money on top of a similar amount earmarked earlier in the year, said the people, who declined to be identified discussing information that’s not public.
—Gabrielle Coppola, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2025
But overall crime has declined, including a 30% drop in homicides, the mayor’s office said.
—Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 4 Oct. 2025
Garner declined to specify exactly which buildings the city is eyeing, but said one location is in midtown and another, apparently more favorable, option is downtown and near Willa Gill.
—Sofi Zeman
october 3, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2025
The city declined to confirm whether those payments were part of a severance package.
—Nick Sullivan, Charlotte Observer, 3 Oct. 2025
The committee declined to comment on Friday’s ICAO decision.
—Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2025
State Attorney Jack Campbell declined to comment.
—Lawrence Mower, Miami Herald, 3 Oct. 2025
Universal Music Group declined to comment.
—Luke Fountain, CNBC, 3 Oct. 2025
The Academy declined to comment.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for declined
Verb
-
In the lead-up to the tournament, Argentina had played a series of friendlies without him, since Valencia refused to release him.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Geri refused to leave the premises, according to authorities, and was arrested without incident.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Country music artist Morgan Wallen initially denied throwing a chair off the roof of Nashville bar Chief’s in 2024, according to police video footage obtained by The Associated Press.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Combs remains behind bars, having been denied bail prior to sentencing.—
Liam Quinn,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Onscreen, a bridezilla sent an equivalent table soaring through a banquet hall, felling at least one chandelier.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
3 Oct. 2025
-
They’re supposed to do fine in extreme heat and snow, though residents of other cities have had to rescue them when they’ve been felled by weather.—
Scottie Andrew,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
However, as Ozzy's health deteriorated, the project shifted into a film instead.—
Marina Watts,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Stone, brick and window work has deteriorated.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Educator turnover in Wisconsin public schools has decreased from pandemic highs but remains elevated.—
Kayla Huynh,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
-
After just a few minutes on each arm, the soreness had noticeably decreased, and my arms looked more defined and less puffy, especially near the underarm area where water retention tends to settle.—
Francesca Krempa,
StyleCaster,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Authorities said at the time that the victim apparently plunged from a steep embankment.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
29 Sep. 2025
-
In the summer of 2022 when inflation was raging at four-decade highs and consumer sentiment plunged to its lowest level on record, Americans continued to spend at a solid clip in the following months.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
26 Sep. 2025
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
-
Not in the response from the armed Palestinian group were other provisions detailing Gaza's future, including some Hamas has long rejected.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
5 Oct. 2025
-
Sancho rejected a contract offer at Manchester City to join Dortmund in 2017.—
Liam Tharme,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Declined.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/declined. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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