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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of declined
Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
That tax collector, Cheryl Blogoslawski, was suspended from her job in January, not long after a new mayor, Democrat Bobby Sanchez, took office after Stewart declined to seek a seventh two-year term.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026
In Langesfeld’s case, Oscar Health repeatedly declined to cover the costly cancer-fighting drug therapy, arguing that the prescribed drug was not medically necessary or federally approved to treat his type of cancer.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2026
Piracy off Somalia’s coast, once among the most dangerous in the world, has declined significantly over the past decade due to international naval patrols and improved maritime security.
—ABC News, 25 Apr. 2026
Snelling declined to provide many specifics on the case at the news conference, including how the suspect got the gun.
—Madeline King, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
His attorney declined to speak on camera but issued a statement.
—Abby Dodge, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026
Green declined to comment to USA TODAY.
—Brieanna J. Frank, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
The trade group, which declined interview requests from NBC News, has long pitched the same argument to policymakers.
—Rich Bellis, NBC news, 11 Apr. 2026
Verb
Westerheide declined to answer follow-up questions about the Patton autopsy.
—Kelly Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Apr. 2026
That tax collector, Cheryl Blogoslawski, was suspended from her job in January, not long after a new mayor, Democrat Bobby Sanchez, took office after Stewart declined to seek a seventh two-year term.
—Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 25 Apr. 2026
In Langesfeld’s case, Oscar Health repeatedly declined to cover the costly cancer-fighting drug therapy, arguing that the prescribed drug was not medically necessary or federally approved to treat his type of cancer.
—Michelle Marchante, Miami Herald, 25 Apr. 2026
Piracy off Somalia’s coast, once among the most dangerous in the world, has declined significantly over the past decade due to international naval patrols and improved maritime security.
—ABC News, 25 Apr. 2026
Snelling declined to provide many specifics on the case at the news conference, including how the suspect got the gun.
—Madeline King, Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2026
His attorney declined to speak on camera but issued a statement.
—Abby Dodge, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026
Green declined to comment to USA TODAY.
—Brieanna J. Frank, USA Today, 25 Apr. 2026
The trade group, which declined interview requests from NBC News, has long pitched the same argument to policymakers.
—Rich Bellis, NBC news, 11 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for declined
Verb
-
Meanwhile, Larysa was stuck in Belarus, a country allied with Russia that Nataliia despised and had refused to move to, despite her daughter’s many pleas.—
Lizzie Johnson,
New Yorker,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The Nuggets refused to engage, declining to respond on the off day.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The same City who denied Arsenal title glory in 2023 and 2024.—
Nnamdi Onyeagwara,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Jordan was then interviewed by a private investigator hired by Jackson’s attorneys, and denied being molested by the singer.—
Amelia McDonell-Parry,
Rolling Stone,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In the piece, the Vicar of Christ is felled not by his oppressors but rather by a random cosmic event.—
Brian Boucher,
ARTnews.com,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Jeff Shell, now felled from his presidency of Paramount, is living proof.—
Gary Baum,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
His mental health has severely deteriorated, his financial situation is terrible, and his drug dependency is at its worst.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
24 Apr. 2026
-
An old male Japanese macaque maintained alpha status as his ability to walk deteriorated, but only through an alliance with the alpha female.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Brent crude, the global benchmark, decreased to just more than $91 per barrel Friday afternoon after reaching lower to $89 earlier in the day.—
Ryan Mancini,
The Hill,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Though the number of deadly attacks by separatists has decreased in recent years, the conflict shows no sign of resolution.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Oil prices plunged more than 10% on Friday to below $90 per barrel.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Play Video Oil, fuel and natural gas prices plunged on hopes that the latest developments would mean more energy supplies can finally transit safely through the strait.—
Kate Sullivan,
Fortune,
17 Apr. 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
-
Prosecutors said Maya’s ballot was counted in the recall election, but rejected the following year.—
Andrew J. Campa,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2026
-
The shareholders, however, rejected WBD CEO David Zaslav‘s lucrative compensation package, sending a message to its board in the process.—
Alex Weprin,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Declined.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/declined. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
