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
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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
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Recent Examples of decline
Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
Twenty-six of the 28 shorebird species relatively common in North America are declining.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 3 Sep. 2025
This severe decline in new jobs—especially entry-level opportunities—has frozen a majority of recent graduates out of the workforce.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decline
Verb
Cassinelli, the family’s attorney, declined to provide additional details about the transaction.
—Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
Twenty-six of the 28 shorebird species relatively common in North America are declining.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
Co-creators Greg Daniels (who was also a showrunner on The Office) and Michael Koman (Nathan for You) take a hard look at the steady decline of local newspapers — and find plenty of material for comedy there.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 3 Sep. 2025
This severe decline in new jobs—especially entry-level opportunities—has frozen a majority of recent graduates out of the workforce.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for decline
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decline
Verb
-
Anisimova dialed in, desperately refusing to give Osaka any openings.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The airline reserves the right to refuse transportation to plus-size passengers who cannot be safely accommodated.—
Zach Wichter,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Instead of confirming or denying, the Colorado Buffaloes head coach flashed a wide smile and pretended the connection on their call was too poor to proceed.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
29 Aug. 2025
-
Less than a year later, Anderson’s attorney filed a motion seeking a new trial based on new evidence — Smothers’ false affidavit — but that motion was ultimately denied by the court.—
Tresa Baldas,
Freep.com,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Alex Bowman falls three laps down after a slow pit stop.—
Shane Connuck,
Charlotte Observer,
1 Sep. 2025
-
Between 2 and 3 inches of rain have fallen.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The 112-year-old school building has asbestos and a deteriorating foundation.—
Erica Mosca,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Sep. 2025
-
But when the levees failed, thousands of people were trapped inside as supplies dwindled and conditions deteriorated quickly.—
Sarah Alegre,
FOXNews.com,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Company officials also noted operating income decreased roughly 7% and its diluted earnings per share dropped 13%.—
Olivia Evans,
The Courier-Journal,
29 Aug. 2025
-
As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Over the course of the past four years since the Taliban took control of Kabul, plunging Afghanistan into a humanitarian crisis and stripping away women's rights, millions of Afghans who initially fled have now been expelled from Iran and Pakistan, according to the United Nations.—
Trisha Mukherjee,
ABC News,
16 Aug. 2025
-
Shares of department store Kohl’s (KSS) surged nearly 90% before plunging more than 25% – all within the same day on July 22.—
David Trainer,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
These ingredients reflect a growing shift in pet wellness away from simply slowing joint deterioration and toward rebuilding comfort, restoring flexibility, and reducing inflammation at the source.—
Lyssanoel Frater,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
-
But the deployment of—among others—three destroyers, at least one submarine and an amphibious ready group (ARG) filled with Marines is a further deterioration in the poor relationship between Washington and Caracas that appears to have spooked Maduro.—
Ellie Cook
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
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
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Decline.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decline. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.
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