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
Relevance
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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
Mary Jo Pitzl, AZCentral.com, 17 Aug. 2025
Inflation then would decline and nearly reach the Fed’s 2% goal in 2028, the last year of his term.
—Paul Davidson, USA Today, 16 Aug. 2025
Felice J. Freyer, NPR, 16 Aug. 2025
Some European markets performed particularly well, including Italy and the UK, which jumped 40% and 30%, respectively, though France had an 11% year-on-year decline.
—PC Magazine, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decline
Verb
The Attorney General’s Office declined to comment on the complaint, which was filed in March 2025.
—Mary Jo Pitzl, AZCentral.com, 17 Aug. 2025
Inflation then would decline and nearly reach the Fed’s 2% goal in 2028, the last year of his term.
—Paul Davidson, USA Today, 16 Aug. 2025
Noun
If cognitive decline starts, an older person may forget to pay their mortgage.
—Felice J. Freyer, NPR, 16 Aug. 2025
Some European markets performed particularly well, including Italy and the UK, which jumped 40% and 30%, respectively, though France had an 11% year-on-year decline.
—PC Magazine, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decline
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decline
Verb
-
While many rideshare companies refuse to pay affiliate commissions, Obi has built a parallel revenue stream via a data business selling anonymized, aggregated insights.—
Sindhya Valloppillil,
Forbes.com,
12 Aug. 2025
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Agencies refused to release Neal’s autopsy and the Florida Highway Patrol’s report of the crash, and the Orange-Osceola State Attorney’s Office had declined to comment on whether further charges are pending.—
Cristóbal Reyes,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The goal of Gastineau’s memorandum is to convince U.S. District Judge Paul A. Engelmayer, who is presiding over the case, to deny the motion to dismiss and advance the case into pretrial discovery.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
15 Aug. 2025
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Shaw then asked if her boyfriend or a friend could pick up her son since his documents were up to date, but she was again denied, Thorward said.—
Hanna Park,
CNN Money,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But, if wages don’t rise to match those jumps, consumer spending could fall and slow the economy.—
Raul Elizalde,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Twice this season the Milwaukee Brewers have flirted with a 12 game winning streak but fell short, until their Aug. 13 12-5 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.—
Ricardo Torres,
jsonline.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But after the Sriracha-maker callously withheld payments from Underwood, the relationship deteriorated and litigation followed.—
Kate Vitasek,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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But this week, the situation in Donetsk has rapidly deteriorated, with Russian forces making important advances to the north east of Dobropilia, altering control of the area Witkoff has been discussing with the Kremlin.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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But in the past two years, crime rates have in fact drastically decreased.—
Rebecca Schneid,
Time,
12 Aug. 2025
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Gross profit decreased 12% compared to last year's second quarter end, Kodak disclosed, and its cash balance sits at $155 million, marking a loss of just under 23% since the end of December.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Filmed on 16mm Kodak Ektachrome across a non-stop 45 day shoot, Petersen expands her exploration of mysticism and disappearance in southernmost Argentina – plunging head-first into a father-daughter relationship upended in the sleepy mountains of Tierra del Fuego.—
Jason Liwag,
Variety,
14 Aug. 2025
-
The eviction notice has plunged his future into uncertainty.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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By diplomatic standards, the deterioration has been abrupt.—
Andreas Kluth,
Mercury News,
14 Aug. 2025
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Other economists — such as those at Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Citigroup Inc. and UBS Group AG — interpreted the rapid deterioration in hiring more as a sign of weak labor demand, which would push the Fed to commence with rate reductions at its next policy meeting in September.—
Ashley Lutz,
Fortune,
9 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Where corporate criminal investigations resolve without filing any criminal charges (through a declination or deferred prosecution agreement), companies should expect victims to still voice their views loudly to the Justice Department and beyond.—
Lisa Zornberg,
Forbes.com,
21 May 2025
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The sun's changing declination is what determines whether the sun's rays strike us at a low angle or more directly.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
6 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Decline.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decline. Accessed 21 Aug. 2025.
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