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
Chantz Martin Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 May 2026
Meanwhile, a Cook County judge on Thursday declined to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate alleged wrongdoing by federal agents during Operation Midway Blitz.
—Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 23 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
The Broward Sheriff's Office declined an on-camera interview, citing an active and ongoing investigation.
—Chelsea Jones, CBS News, 23 May 2026
The Broward Sheriff’s Office declined an on-camera interview, citing an active and ongoing investigation.
—Chelsea Jones, Miami Herald, 23 May 2026
Since then, usage has declined for several reasons.
—Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 23 May 2026
Burden’s publisher, Dial Press, declined to comment.
—Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 23 May 2026
Acting Pentagon press secretary Joel Valdez declined to comment.
—Arkansas Online, 16 May 2026
Verb
Officials at Tucson’s Kino Sports Complex declined to comment.
—Chantz Martin Outkick, FOXNews.com, 24 May 2026
Meanwhile, a Cook County judge on Thursday declined to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate alleged wrongdoing by federal agents during Operation Midway Blitz.
—Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 23 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
The Broward Sheriff's Office declined an on-camera interview, citing an active and ongoing investigation.
—Chelsea Jones, CBS News, 23 May 2026
The Broward Sheriff’s Office declined an on-camera interview, citing an active and ongoing investigation.
—Chelsea Jones, Miami Herald, 23 May 2026
Since then, usage has declined for several reasons.
—Anthony Man, Sun Sentinel, 23 May 2026
Burden’s publisher, Dial Press, declined to comment.
—Jessica Winter, New Yorker, 23 May 2026
Acting Pentagon press secretary Joel Valdez declined to comment.
—Arkansas Online, 16 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for declined
Verb
-
During Britney Spears’ DUI arrest in Ventura County in March, the pop star, at points, refused to comply with law enforcement, denying being under the influence and offering to make lasagna for officers rather than exit her car, video and reporting released by various outlets Thursday showed.—
Sean Campbell,
Sacbee.com,
22 May 2026
-
But at check-in, Wood says employees questioned the family and refused to issue them passes.—
Christopher Edwards,
PEOPLE,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
The couple's attorneys did not respond to USA TODAY's request for comment on May 20 but have denied all the allegations in court records.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
21 May 2026
-
But the Hawks, last Thursday, denied the Sixers permission for the interview.—
Tony Jones,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
Verb
-
Firefighting crews worked Monday to cool residual heat and prevent hot spots from causing reignition, using chainsaws to fell and cut up hazardous trees, inspecting each section for heat and using hoses to extinguish any remaining embers.—
Forum News Service,
Twin Cities,
20 May 2026
-
The timbers came from trees felled by Cyclone Pam, the Category 5 storm that flattened much of Vanuatu in 2015.—
Christopher Elliott,
Forbes.com,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
Since his installation, the national security of Israeli citizens has steadily deteriorated.—
Avi Issacharoff,
The Atlantic,
22 May 2026
-
The facility had deteriorated insulation around the pipes.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
May 22,
Sacbee.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
In 2024, that decreased to 20 percent.—
Ashley Wu,
New York Times,
18 May 2026
-
School enrollment numbers have decreased markedly in Connecticut in the past two years.—
Sasha Allen,
Hartford Courant,
16 May 2026
Verb
-
The stock has plunged 54% from that time to May 15.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
17 May 2026
-
Brent crude plunged nearly 11%.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
16 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
-
The comments came two weeks after the House rejected DeSantis’ push to pass bills to expand vaccine exemptions for children entering public schools and to install consumer-friendly regulations on artificial intelligence products and companies.—
Gray Rohrer,
Sun Sentinel,
15 May 2026
-
Bianco launched a voter‑fraud investigation after a local group claimed the county counted roughly 46,000 more ballots than were received, a claim election officials rejected.—
James Ward,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Declined.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/declined. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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