1
as in to refuse
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
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2
as in to deny
to be unwilling to grant
declined our request to hold a party
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3
as in to fall
to go to a lower level especially abruptly
new-car sales declined to their lowest level in years
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4
as in to deteriorate
to become worse or of less value
his reputation as a writer began to decline not long after his death
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5
as in to decrease
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually
the winds should decline as soon as the cold front passes
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6
as in to plunge
to lead or extend downward
the bike path declines toward the riverbank and then follows the river for several miles
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1
as in deterioration
a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body
her sad decline from a robust athlete to an old woman with arthritis
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2
as in declination
a change to a lower state or level
the decline of the Roman Empire
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3
as in downhill
a downward slope
the bicyclist lost control on the unexpectedly steep decline
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4
as in demise
a loss of status
the engagement at the small club was an unmistakable sign of the rock band's decline
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5
as in decrease
the amount by which something is lessened
a huge decline in the value of the artwork after its authenticity was questioned
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of decline
Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2025
Spanx executives declined to comment on annual sales, which industry sources estimated are between $300 million and $400 million.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2025
Gene Maddaus, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
While 2022 saw the opening or reactivation of 40 coal mines, 151 mines closed or were nonoperational that same year, an 18% decline from the year before.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decline
Verb
His lawyer has previously declined to comment on the case.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2025
Spanx executives declined to comment on annual sales, which industry sources estimated are between $300 million and $400 million.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
The decline in location shoots was led by a sharp drop in reality TV production, which recorded its second-worst quarter in the last 15 years.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 14 Oct. 2025
While 2022 saw the opening or reactivation of 40 coal mines, 151 mines closed or were nonoperational that same year, an 18% decline from the year before.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decline
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decline
Verb
-
During one heated exchange, immigration agents who did not want to be captured on body camera footage refused to invite FBI agents along for an arrest operation, one of the sources said.—
Josh Campbell,
CNN Money,
16 Oct. 2025
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According to Film Workers for Palestine, the pledge was inspired by Filmmakers United Against Apartheid, a group founded by high-profile directors such as Jonathan Demme and Martin Scorsese, which demanded that the film industry refuse to distribute work in South Africa.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Upon the basis of these findings, Congress declares that the constitutional right of citizens to vote is denied or abridged in some areas by the requirement of the payment of a poll tax as a precondition to voting.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
17 Oct. 2025
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The administration says the white South African farmers face discrimination and violence in South Africa, which the country’s government denies.—
Khaleda Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
On a shotgun snap, a handoff slipped out of Bo Nix’s hands, the quarterback falling on it for a loss of four.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Our 10 favorite Amazon fall fashion staples start at just $10 right now.—
Mia Huelsbeck,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Kabul wants to hedge against its deteriorating relationship with its former patron Islamabad, which accuses the Taliban of harboring a separate but allied group that has carried out deadly attacks inside Pakistan.—
Happymon Jacob,
Time,
16 Oct. 2025
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Those delaminations deteriorated between dive 80 and dive 88, its final dive, resulting in a local buckling failure that led to the implosion.—
Michael Dorgan,
FOXNews.com,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Though the number of uninsured motorist was decreasing during the 2010s, the COVID-19 pandemic reversed the trend, with some Americans, who were driving less often, dropping their insurance, USA TODAY reported.—
Caroline Neal,
Louisville Courier Journal,
17 Oct. 2025
-
In addition, the rebound numbers could decrease for Towns.—
Stan Son,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Shares of both banks plunged by double digits on Thursday, while the broader regional banking industry suffered its worst single-day loss since April.—
Benzinga,
Freep.com,
18 Oct. 2025
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The Starmer premiership has, in just 14 months, plunged to lower levels of support than any other government at mid term.—
Anand Menon,
Time,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Whitney Portal will observe sharp deterioration in conditions with extreme danger to hikers and campers unprepared for the winter weather.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
13 Oct. 2025
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Casualties among Gaza’s police force during the two-year conflict have contributed to a deterioration in security, with looting of aid becoming commonplace.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Presenting their findings in a lengthy declination memo, the prosecutors explicitly mentioned the two other investigations to bolster their recommendation that probable cause does not exist to charge Comey, according to sources familiar with the contents of the memo.—
Katherine Faulders,
ABC News,
6 Oct. 2025
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On those three dates, variations in the moon's position relative to Earth's equator — particularly its declination — can influence tidal forces that subtly affect Earth's rotation rate.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decline.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decline. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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