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

Fraud alerts, transaction declines, connectivity issues, or differences in merchant systems can create interruptions at inconvenient moments. — Td Bank, Miami Herald, 17 Aug. 2026

Other studies show that academic outcomes fall when funding declines. — Jason Burns, The Conversation, 17 Aug. 2026

The bill would give policyholders more notice before an insurer declines to renew coverage and an opportunity to make changes to their homes to meet underwriting guidelines and retain their policies. — John Woolfolk, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2026

For someone with $15,000 in credit card debt, for example, simply continuing to make minimum payments may mean putting a sizable amount of money toward interest while the principal declines very slowly. — Angelica Leicht, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026

Summary CoreWeave stock surged 18% after its Q2 earnings, breaking a trend of post-report declines. — Peter Cohan, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026

The report comes days after Wendy’s reported its sixth straight quarter of same-store sales declines. — Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 12 Aug. 2026

How collagen works for aging skin Collagen is a protein that gives skin its firmness and elasticity, and the body’s natural production of it declines with age. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Occupations with the greatest exposure to AI have not experienced widespread employment declines. — Adam Schickling, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026

Noun

In The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt argues that overparenting and excessive screen time are driving declines in youth mental health. — Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026

This summer, the school board approved plans to close or consolidate nine more campuses – the most ever in one year – as enrollment declines and ensuing financial pressures stretch the district thin. — Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026

The Common App report showed double-digit declines in applications from Asia and Africa, but the number of European students applying to American campuses also fell by 4%, reversing years of steady increases. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026

Japan’s Nikkei 225 and Thailand’s SET index are both up around 25% for the year; even after recent declines, South Korea’s KOSPI is almost 60% higher year-to-date. — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026

Invest in Louisiana’s Fields said SNAP enrollment declines have broader consequences. — Geoff Mulvihill, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026

The two reservoirs on the Colorado River continue to see declines as the region faces drought and water use concerns. — Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2026

Bond yields pushed higher, wiping out the declines that followed Wednesday's announcement from the Treasury Department of a plan to subdue market rates. — Alexa Lomonaco, CNBC, 20 Aug. 2026

Neither tool eliminates sequence-of-returns risk, but both can reduce the pressure to turn temporary market declines into permanent mistakes. — Steve Booren, Denver Post, 16 Aug. 2026