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

The firm declined to share Henderson’s declaration, citing a confidentiality agreement. — Rebecca Ellis, Los Angeles Times, 12 July 2026

Attorneys for the defendants have denied the allegations in court, and MetroLoft declined to comment on the pending litigation on Thursday. — Gloria Pazmino, CNN Money, 11 July 2026

An AstraZeneca spokesperson declined to comment further on the share price reaction. — Elsa Ohlen, CNBC, 11 July 2026

From this decrease, labor compensation and wages also declined. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 11 July 2026

Chamber spokesman Jim Wiseman declined to disclose the amount of the sponsorship, but BP has been one of the event’s top tier sponsors in past years. — Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2026

The location for the bronze statue on the Wimbledon grounds hasn't been announced and Williams-Ellis declined to offer specifics about the pose. — ABC News, 4 July 2026

In doing so, Valdez, like fellow successful DSA New York Congressional candidate Avila Chevalier, declined to endorse Jeffries as minority leader or even Speaker if the Democrats take back the House. — Peter Lucas, Boston Herald, 4 July 2026

The woman declined to speak with police and refused human trafficking victim services, authorities said. — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 4 July 2026