DECLINES Synonyms: 418 Similar and Opposite Words

declines 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of decline

as in refuses

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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as in denies

to be unwilling to grant declined our request to hold a party

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as in falls

to go to a lower level especially abruptly new-car sales declined to their lowest level in years

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as in deteriorates

to become worse or of less value his reputation as a writer began to decline not long after his death

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as in decreases

to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually the winds should decline as soon as the cold front passes

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as in plunges

to lead or extend downward the bike path declines toward the riverbank and then follows the river for several miles

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declines

2 of 2

noun

plural of decline

as in deteriorations

a change to a lower state or level the decline of the Roman Empire

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as in dips

a downward slope the bicyclist lost control on the unexpectedly steep decline

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as in demises

a loss of status the engagement at the small club was an unmistakable sign of the rock band's decline

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as in reductions

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 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 declines

Verb

Still, the ratings declines are a problem for Fox and Fox News, which will need to turn things around at some point. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 2 Nov. 2026 Rama asks Lakshmana to share the responsibilities of government and accept the position of heir apparent, but Lakshmana declines. — Tamanna Nangia, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026 Team performance declines, attrition spikes or they’re quietly managed out. — Miriam Groom, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026 Some studies report that, compared with other activities of daily living, the ability to climb stairs often declines first and fastest with age. — Kristen Gasnick, Verywell Health, 29 Oct. 2026 Very big fish seem to run in cycles and are often particularly abundant as the species declines. — Bob Rocchetta As Told To Al Ristori, Outdoor Life, 28 Oct. 2026 The Salt Lake County clerk requests assistance to secure the polls, but the sheriff, unsure about jurisdiction, declines. — Barton Gellman, New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2026 Steep declines across the tech space, led by Meta and the chip sector, saw Nasdaq log its worst day since June. — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 23 Oct. 2026 Karl Smesko declines further comment on anthem Smesko was asked why his team had left the court shortly before each Finals anthem and returned shortly afterward, and whose decision that was. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Noun

The Nasdaq is getting crushed Friday, losing more than 2% on the post-earnings declines in Amazon and Intel. — Matthew J. Belvedere, CNBC, 30 Oct. 2026 Since then, circulation has remained stable at both, Brummond said, even as many other publications across the country have suffered declines. — Pamela E. Walck, The Conversation, 29 Oct. 2026 Expectations of fewer future rate hikes could support Treasury prices, while persistent inflation, strong growth and large fiscal deficits could limit declines in longer-term yields. — Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 29 Oct. 2026 The department acknowledged that the figures do not establish whether the cameras caused the declines. — Data Reporter, Austin American Statesman, 29 Oct. 2026 Fox News’ declines have no recent precedent in the month prior to an election. — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2026 Also suffering declines in attendance were Knott’s Berry Farm and Six Flags’ Magic Mountain, each dipping about 4%. — Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2026 In another set of studies, adults who made more frequent and extreme upward comparisons reported an immediate decline in self-evaluation and cumulative declines in self-esteem and life satisfaction over a browsing session. — Ashwini Nadkarni, Time, 24 Oct. 2026 Both charter schools and traditional schools saw declines compared to last year’s October count, with charter schools losing about 1,000 students and traditional schools losing the remainder. — Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for declines

Verb

Foreign courts may decide divorce and custody but generally do not have jurisdiction to divide those benefits as a US court can, leaving spouses little recourse if the service member refuses to share them voluntarily.

— Brianna Keilar, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026
Many veteran leaders express frustration, claiming that Generation Z lacks loyalty, demands too much flexibility or refuses to put in the grueling hours that previous generations accepted as the standard.

— Kent Ingle, Forbes.com, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of refuses

Verb

The 6% lead for the No side falls outside the poll’s margin of error, which was around 3% according to PPIC.

— Andrew Graham October 27, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026
The Hamptons If your trip falls between late spring and early fall and you’re situated on the East Coast, a trip to the Hamptons will likely be hassle-free enough for everyone involved.

— Vogue, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2026

Definition of falls

Verb

Later in the week and into the weekend, the chance of rain decreases with spotty showers possible through Halloween weekend.

— CBS News, CBS News, 27 Oct. 2026
Studies have found that having strong muscles significantly decreases the higher risk of disease and early death that’s linked to chronic inflammation.

— Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of decreases

Verb

Appropriately enough, the film is about a future when a super-intelligent AI has spread across the globe, and humanity has handed control to algorithms, which plunges the world into a crisis.

— James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 29 Oct. 2026
Stepping forward, my right foot suddenly plunges through the floorboards, soft and wet with rot.

— Sam Kestenbaum, Harpers Magazine, 27 Oct. 2026