Synonyms of declines

declines 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of decline

1

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• refuses
• rejects
• ignores
• denies
• passes
• withdraws
• disapproves
• spurns
• dismisses
• disputes
• avoids
• balks (at)
• vetoes
• forbids
• repudiates
• turns down
• nixes
• passes up
• throws over
• deselects
• throws out
• rebuffs
• negatives
• disdains
• overrules
• reprobates
• prohibits
• blows off
• scorns
• renounces
• turns one's back on
• retracts
• scouts
• disavows
• proscribes
• recalls
• revokes
• shoots down
• contradicts
• recants
• refutes
• abjures
• abstains (from)
• refrains (from)
• forswears
• gainsays
• disclaims
• disagrees (with)
• disowns
• backtracks
• takes back
• disproves
• bypasses
• controverts
• forbears
• rebuts
• negates
• reneges
• backs off
• sticks
• unsays
• detours
• disallows
• backs down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• accepts
• approves
• agrees (to)
• receives
• takes
• tolerates
• swallows
• agrees
• adopts
• embraces
• welcomes
• consents
• condones
• chooses
• acquiesces
• assents
• selects
• countenances
• supports
• accedes
• espouses
• handpicks

2

as in denies

to be unwilling to grant

declined our request to hold a party

Synonyms & Similar Words

• refuses
• denies
• rejects
• disapproves
• withholds
• disallows
• forbids
• negatives
• nixes
• prohibits
• vetoes
• bans
• restricts
• keeps
• spurns
• enjoins
• restrains
• curbs
• proscribes
• rebuffs
• checks
• reprobates
• repels
• holds
• constrains
• hinders
• represses
• impedes
• obstructs
• balks (at)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• permits
• concedes
• grants
• allows
• provides
• lets
• affords
• gives
• supplies
• furnishes
• authorizes
• agrees (to)
• acquiesces
• licenses
• commissions
• consents (to)
• warrants
• OKs
• assents (to)
• accedes (to)
• sanctions
• accords
• vouchsafes

3

as in falls

to go to a lower level especially abruptly

new-car sales declined to their lowest level in years

Synonyms & Similar Words

• falls
• plunges
• dips
• tumbles
• drops
• plummets
• decreases
• sinks
• descends
• skids
• crashes
• lowers
• dives
• diminishes
• nose-dives
• subsides
• retreats
• wanes
• dwindles
• craters
• dies (down)
• moderates
• ebbs
• droops
• lessens
• tapers off
• abates
• recedes
• lets up
• de-escalates

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rises
• arises
• ups
• lifts
• increases
• ascends
• soars
• spikes
• mounts
• grows
• builds
• expands
• intensifies
• accumulates
• mushrooms
• swells
• enlarges
• picks up
• waxes
• escalates
• burgeons
• snowballs
• balloons

4

as in deteriorates

to become worse or of less value

his reputation as a writer began to decline not long after his death

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deteriorates
• descends
• worsens
• crumbles
• diminishes
• regresses
• devolves
• degenerates
• decays
• ebbs
• sinks
• atrophies
• rots
• weakens
• retrogrades
• goes to pot
• falls
• goes to seed
• wanes
• disintegrates
• sags
• dwindles
• downsizes
• reduces
• slips
• recedes
• degrades
• decomposes
• sours
• abates
• undermines
• fails
• putrefies
• lessens
• corrupts
• lags
• dilapidates
• de-escalates
• spoils
• lowers
• debilitates
• languishes
• droops
• breaks down
• wilts
• runs down
• wastes (away)
• molders
• flags

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• improves
• ameliorates
• upgrades
• enhances
• intensifies
• advances
• strengthens
• meliorates
• heightens
• progresses
• proceeds
• develops
• enriches
• fortifies
• betters
• marches

5

as in decreases

to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually

the winds should decline as soon as the cold front passes

Synonyms & Similar Words

• decreases
• diminishes
• subsides
• falls
• shrinks
• eases
• vanishes
• ebbs
• wanes
• drops (off)
• moderates
• dwindles
• tapers
• drains (away)
• recedes
• dies (away or down or out)
• tapers off
• lowers
• lessens
• relents
• falls away
• weakens
• palls
• remits
• abates
• evaporates
• ratchets (down)
• lets up
• de-escalates
• rachets (down)
• collapses
• phases down
• compresses
• tails (off)
• melts (away)
• slows (down)
• contracts
• slackens
• fades (away)
• peters (out)
• constricts
• condenses
• alleviates
• relaxes
• gives out
• fritters (away)
• sinks
• deflates
• flags
• caves (in)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• increases
• rises
• grows
• builds
• expands
• intensifies
• accumulates
• soars
• swells
• mushrooms
• escalates
• enlarges
• appears
• mounts
• emerges
• picks up
• waxes
• shows up
• snowballs
• burgeons
• lengthens
• balloons
• elongates
• blows up
• distends

6

as in plunges

to lead or extend downward

the bike path declines toward the riverbank and then follows the river for several miles

Synonyms & Similar Words

• falls
• plunges
• descends
• drops
• slopes
• dips
• sinks
• tilts
• leans
• inclines
• tips
• heels
• angles
• lists
• reclines
• slants
• cants
• cocks

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rises
• ascends
• arises
• climbs
• mounts
• upturns
• levels
• upsweeps
• planes
• uprises
• flattens
• straightens
• smooths
• evens

declines

2 of 2

noun

plural of decline

1

as in deteriorations

a change to a lower state or level

the decline of the Roman Empire

Synonyms & Similar Words

• deteriorations
• degradations
• declinations
• falls
• decreases
• descents
• decadences
• ebbs
• downgrades
• eclipses
• downfalls
• devolutions
• degenerations
• reductions
• degeneracies
• decays
• declensions
• dégringolades
• destructions
• drops
• dips
• losses
• decompositions
• dark ages
• dissolutions
• slumps
• breakups
• sunsets
• nadirs
• disintegrations
• debasements
• ruins
• sags
• depreciations
• downturns
• abasements
• shrinkages
• decrements
• falloffs
• decimations
• diminutions
• diminishments
• slips
• deflations
• downtrends
• drop-offs
• demolitions
• ruinations
• havoc
• demolishments
• downslides
• abatements
• de-escalations
• desolations

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rises
• developments
• growths
• upswings
• ascents
• increases
• evolutions
• advancements
• gains
• renewals
• restorations
• increments
• enhancements
• raises
• additions
• supplements
• boosts
• accruals
• flowerings
• augmentations
• accretions
• revitalizations
• addenda

2

as in dips

a downward slope

the bicyclist lost control on the unexpectedly steep decline

Synonyms & Similar Words

• dips
• falls
• hangs
• downhills
• descents
• hangings
• downgrades
• declivities
• depressions
• basins
• declensions
• hollows

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rises
• upgrades
• ascents
• inclines
• grades
• gradients
• hills
• acclivities
• uprises
• tilts
• inclinations
• pitches
• leans
• rakes
• uphills
• glacis

3

as in demises

a loss of status

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• demises
• falls
• downfalls
• setbacks
• downs
• reversals
• collapses
• breakdowns
• flameouts
• defeats
• dégringolades
• comedowns
• ruins
• crashes
• disappointments
• humiliations
• undoings
• burnouts
• descents
• meltdowns
• disgraces
• nadirs
• abasements
• bottoms

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rises
• ups
• advances
• progresses
• ascents
• exaltations
• aggrandizements
• headways
• flowers
• primes
• heydays

4

as in reductions

the amount by which something is lessened

a huge decline in the value of the artwork after its authenticity was questioned

Synonyms & Similar Words

• decreases
• reductions
• drops
• dents
• falls
• losses
• decrements
• shrinkages
• depletions
• slumps
• diminutions
• falloffs
• depressions
• drop-offs
• diminishments
• step-downs
• abatements
• subtractions
• downturns
• deductions
• cuts
• cutbacks
• slips
• retrenchments
• curtailments
• shortenings

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• increases
• gains
• rises
• increments
• raises
• boosts
• enlargements
• additions
• accumulations
• supplements
• upticks
• accruals
• accretions
• extensions
• step-ups
• continuations
• upswings
• upturns
• uptrends

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of declines

Verb

Many international students pay full tuition, turning them an increasingly important source of revenue as domestic enrollment declines. — Scott White, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026

Alan Jackson declines comment With that, the judge left the bench, taking no comment or questions from the lawyers present. — Kristina Rex, CBS News, 1 July 2026

How to Make Your Yard Safe for Turtles Many turtle species are experiencing population declines, and simple actions can help give the next generation a chance to survive. — Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 1 July 2026

Economists have warned that the revenue bump is potentially temporary and analysts say the growth in state spending could leave California in a challenging position if the economy declines. — Taryn Luna, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026

After age 40, bone density naturally declines, and the hormonal changes that accompany menopause can accelerate bone loss. — Taylor Lane, Flow Space, 30 June 2026

For Markiplier, the last few months have been a study in what happens when a creator with 36 million subscribers walks through Hollywood’s front door and declines to become its creature. — Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 29 June 2026

Over the coming years, growing numbers of batteries will be removed from electric cars as their performance gradually declines. — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 28 June 2026

If Maryland declines to participate, the donations will not simply disappear. — Jeffrey S. Trimbath, Baltimore Sun, 28 June 2026

Noun

But between increasingly stiff anti-smoking legislation and very real declines in volumes for years, some investors have given up the industry—and Altria—for dead. — Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026

However, this robust growth was belied by declines in median wealth in most of the 56 markets monitored by UBS, pointing to a growing wealth gap. — Hayley Cuccinello, CNBC, 2 July 2026

The cities of Miami and Miami Beach saw 13% and 8% year-over-year declines, respectively, in the number of people sleeping outside. — Max Klaver, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026

The result was persistent power outages lasting more than 20 hours, gasoline rationing and declines in industrial and food production, among other effects. — Andrea Rodríguez, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026

Partisan differences also contributed to the declines AP-NORC found since 2017; for example, Democrats’ pride in the military fell from 74% in 2017 to 42% this year. — Connor Greene, Time, 2 July 2026

The declines dragged Wall Street’s tech-heavy Nasdaq down by nearly 4% over five days to Wednesday, with chip-makers the worst affected. — The Week Uk, TheWeek, 27 June 2026