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
Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
Aubuchon declined an interview with The Enquirer via media relations firm Strategic Advisers.
—Jolene Almendarez, Cincinnati Enquirer, 31 Jan. 2026
Regretfully, this winter has been so mild that some of these weedy portions have only turned brown and not yet totally declined.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026
The main victim declined to comment.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026
The family’s lawyer declined to talk to the Herald.
—Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
Jeff Millman, a spokesperson for Austin Beutner, declined to comment.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Orpi's family declined to comment Friday.
—Joan Murray, CBS News, 31 Jan. 2026
Market Performance The S&P 500 declined modestly last week.
—Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
Verb
The panel declined to rule on whether switchblades should be considered arms protected by the Second Amendment and ruled instead that California’s prohibition can remain in place because there are a sufficient number of historically similar laws banning other types of knives and bladed weapons.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Jan. 2026
Aubuchon declined an interview with The Enquirer via media relations firm Strategic Advisers.
—Jolene Almendarez, Cincinnati Enquirer, 31 Jan. 2026
Regretfully, this winter has been so mild that some of these weedy portions have only turned brown and not yet totally declined.
—Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2026
The main victim declined to comment.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 31 Jan. 2026
The family’s lawyer declined to talk to the Herald.
—Miami Herald, 31 Jan. 2026
Jeff Millman, a spokesperson for Austin Beutner, declined to comment.
—Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Orpi's family declined to comment Friday.
—Joan Murray, CBS News, 31 Jan. 2026
Market Performance The S&P 500 declined modestly last week.
—Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 25 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for declined
Verb
-
Unlike his friends Fritz Lang and Marlene Dietrich, Gerron refused to leave Germany and was ultimately sent to the Theresienstadt (Terezin) Ghetto, along with many other cultural icons of his time.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
30 Jan. 2026
-
In his news conference, Zverev refused to be drawn on his on-court outburst.—
Eduardo Tansley,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
On Monday, the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles had denied Thompson's request to commute his death sentence to a lesser penalty.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Tehran has denied the allegations.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
After a flurry of punches that would have felled a lesser team and coach, the Owls are still standing.—
Ken Sugiura,
AJC.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Antoine’s trees were eventually felled after the plantation changed hands multiple times after the death of enslaver Roman.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Eventually, her health deteriorated to the point that Ingram left the team to see her back home in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.—
Joe Smith,
New York Times,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Since she was detained, Kordia’s faith has grown immensely, but her physical health has deteriorated, her cousin said.—
Rachel Royster
January 30,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
While the short-term base rate decreased thanks to cuts from the Fed last year, analysts are widely expecting the base rate to decrease at a slower pace in the New Year.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
12 Jan. 2026
-
When eccentricity decreased, the climate shifted toward drier conditions.—
Stefanie Waldek,
Space.com,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Erdoğan changed course in 2023 and brought in new central-bank leadership who jacked interest rates to nearly 50 percent and plunged the country into a recession in a desperate effort to restore credibility.—
Rogé Karma,
The Atlantic,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Shares have plunged more than 20% over the course of those two days.—
Steve Kopack,
NBC news,
7 Jan. 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
-
Earlier, Senate Democrats rejected Republican proposals to address their demands through an executive order or separate legislation, which would not require the existing measure to go back through the House.—
DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE STAFF FROM WIRE REPORTS,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Among other measures, the settlement stipulates that Columbia won't consider race in admissions, programming or hiring, will provide a demographic and academics breakdown of all rejected and admitted students, and will review its international admissions process.—
Bill Chappell,
NPR,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Declined.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/declined. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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