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
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of declined
Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 31 May 2026
When asked about her challenging Qualls in a primary, her campaign declined to comment Saturday.
—Jimmy Lovrien, Twin Cities, 31 May 2026
The Clovis Police Department declined to comment to Fox News Digital.
—Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2026
White House officials declined to say when the president plans to submit new nominations for the Cabinet vacancies to the Senate.
—Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 30 May 2026
Richard Berg, a city spokesperson, declined to say how long before February 2022 the city had been sending notices of delinquency that violate the vehicle code.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026
Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob declined to join Sacramento’s campaign, preferring to buy an existing team rather than wait years for expansion, three people with knowledge of the situation said.
—Michael McGough. Story Produced With Ai Assistance, Sacbee.com, 30 May 2026
The year before Stand Your Ground became law, the prosecutor’s office declined charges in 24 cases.
—Ben Wheeler
may 30, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2026
While Amerisafe has been able to grow its top line consistently, the company’s profits have declined in each of the past two years.
—Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026
Verb
Enrollment declined the past two years at DU after years of growth, Rinehart said.
—Elizabeth Hernandez, Denver Post, 31 May 2026
When asked about her challenging Qualls in a primary, her campaign declined to comment Saturday.
—Jimmy Lovrien, Twin Cities, 31 May 2026
The Clovis Police Department declined to comment to Fox News Digital.
—Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2026
White House officials declined to say when the president plans to submit new nominations for the Cabinet vacancies to the Senate.
—Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 30 May 2026
Richard Berg, a city spokesperson, declined to say how long before February 2022 the city had been sending notices of delinquency that violate the vehicle code.
—David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026
Golden State Warriors owner Joe Lacob declined to join Sacramento’s campaign, preferring to buy an existing team rather than wait years for expansion, three people with knowledge of the situation said.
—Michael McGough. Story Produced With Ai Assistance, Sacbee.com, 30 May 2026
The year before Stand Your Ground became law, the prosecutor’s office declined charges in 24 cases.
—Ben Wheeler
may 30, Kansas City Star, 30 May 2026
While Amerisafe has been able to grow its top line consistently, the company’s profits have declined in each of the past two years.
—Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for declined
Verb
-
The stories below belong to 13 Black women who refused to be reduced to a statistic.—
Ayren Jackson-Cannady,
SELF,
29 May 2026
-
Allen refused to unload the bike, which weighed roughly 300 pounds, according to court records.—
Rose Evans
Updated May 29,
Idaho Statesman,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
The governors, Alfonso Durazo of Sonora and Américo Villarreal Anaya of Tamaulipas, denied any wrongdoing and called accusations against them an attempt to undermine Mexican sovereignty.—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2026
-
Mullin denied the accusations, saying said his agency was not racist.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
Piccotto effectively plays the regret of a mother forced to reckon with the loss of a child, the horror of engaging with that child again, while also grappling with her own role as a mother felled by the scourge of addiction.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
-
In a Western Conference Final where a few other key Colorado Avalanche players are already playing through injuries, the NHL’s leading goal scorer this season was felled trying to prevent someone else from scoring.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
Analysts say the White House would favor a right-wing candidate, and that a victory for either Valencia or de la Espriella would probably mean a return to closer cooperation with Washington on security policy, after relations deteriorated under Petro.—
Catherine Ellis,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2026
-
Regarding their own industries, CEO assessments about current conditions and expectations in six months deteriorated since last quarter.—
Sarah Min,Lisa Kailai Han,
CNBC,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
Homicides have decreased by roughly 11% from this time in 2025, which ended with a 60-year low in the number of people killed; the city has also had 148 fewer people shot.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
-
This isn’t unique to Sacramento, with Smith noting that an American Alliance of Museums survey found that 55% of museums report decreased traffic.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
The consumer economy, though, is flagging; pork prices have plunged amid a glut and languid spending, in a microcosm of muted demand in the country.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
31 May 2026
-
Dollar General shares have fallen for three straight months and the stock is off 17% in 2025; National Vision plunged 29% in May.—
Michael Bloom,
CNBC,
30 May 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
-
New Hampshire, which rejected the DNC’s plan, held a leadoff primary ahead of South Carolina anyway, and Biden — who didn’t campaign or have his name on the ballot — still won by a sizable margin after supporters mounted a write-in campaign on his behalf.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 May 2026
-
Voters rejected a state ballot proposal in 1998 to legalize the prescription of lethal medication to help terminally ill, competent, informed adults commit suicide in Michigan, with 71% voting against the initiative.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Declined.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/declined. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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