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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in denies
to be unwilling to grant
declined our request to hold a party
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in deteriorations
a change to a lower state or level
the decline of the Roman Empire
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in dips
a downward slope
the bicyclist lost control on the unexpectedly steep decline
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Ryan Green, Scientific American, 6 Nov. 2025
Then if a player who declines a qualifying offer signs elsewhere, their new team must forfeit at least one draft pick and their previous team is granted one as compensation.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 6 Nov. 2025
Only Pizza Hut saw same-store sales declines.
—Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2025
Any guest who declines to be searched may be denied entry.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 3 Nov. 2025
Moderating declines at Vans suggest that the brand’s overhaul is taking shape.
—Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 3 Nov. 2025
If the player declines the qualifying offer, his previous team is entitled to an extra draft pick as compensation.
—Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
As crime declines, public sentiment among Nashvillians is actually trending in the opposite direction.
—Austin Hornbostel, Nashville Tennessean, 30 Oct. 2025
City manager declines to comment on police chief City Manager Sheryl Long declined to comment on the situation with Police Chief Tersea Theetge.
—David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 29 Oct. 2025
Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2025
The largest declines were in Massachusetts, down 26, Washington state, down 18, and North Carolina, down 17.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025
And Penney and Kohl’s are still seeing sales declines, albeit less severe than just a few quarters ago.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2025
Advertising revenue fell 17% from the year-earlier period, settling at $110 million, with the company blaming linear ratings declines and lower pricing in the marketplace.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 7 Nov. 2025
Wingstop Chicken-wing chain Wingstop this week pointed to sales declines in areas made up largely of low-income customers.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 7 Nov. 2025
As the chart shows, there have been far fewer 1% moves since then, and hardly any 1% declines until just the past few weeks.
—Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
Already, Lores has ended a cycle of revenue declines with five consecutive quarters of top-line growth.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 31 Oct. 2025
The podcast segment helped offset declines in music streaming ad revenue (SiriusXM also owns music-streaming site Pandora).
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
To confront vaquita declines, in 2019 the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species established an agreement to help eliminate supply and demand for totoabas and help remove gill nets from the upper Gulf of California.
—Ryan Green, Scientific American, 6 Nov. 2025
Then if a player who declines a qualifying offer signs elsewhere, their new team must forfeit at least one draft pick and their previous team is granted one as compensation.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 6 Nov. 2025
Only Pizza Hut saw same-store sales declines.
—Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2025
Any guest who declines to be searched may be denied entry.
—Ed Masley, AZCentral.com, 3 Nov. 2025
Moderating declines at Vans suggest that the brand’s overhaul is taking shape.
—Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 3 Nov. 2025
If the player declines the qualifying offer, his previous team is entitled to an extra draft pick as compensation.
—Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
As crime declines, public sentiment among Nashvillians is actually trending in the opposite direction.
—Austin Hornbostel, Nashville Tennessean, 30 Oct. 2025
City manager declines to comment on police chief City Manager Sheryl Long declined to comment on the situation with Police Chief Tersea Theetge.
—David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 29 Oct. 2025
Noun
Although the study shows that the occurrence of giant planets declines as stars age, the few planets that remain in close orbits around red giants offer valuable insights.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 8 Nov. 2025
The largest declines were in Massachusetts, down 26, Washington state, down 18, and North Carolina, down 17.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 8 Nov. 2025
And Penney and Kohl’s are still seeing sales declines, albeit less severe than just a few quarters ago.
—Phil Wahba, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2025
Advertising revenue fell 17% from the year-earlier period, settling at $110 million, with the company blaming linear ratings declines and lower pricing in the marketplace.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 7 Nov. 2025
Wingstop Chicken-wing chain Wingstop this week pointed to sales declines in areas made up largely of low-income customers.
—Max Zahn, ABC News, 7 Nov. 2025
As the chart shows, there have been far fewer 1% moves since then, and hardly any 1% declines until just the past few weeks.
—Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 5 Nov. 2025
Already, Lores has ended a cycle of revenue declines with five consecutive quarters of top-line growth.
—Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 31 Oct. 2025
The podcast segment helped offset declines in music streaming ad revenue (SiriusXM also owns music-streaming site Pandora).
—Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 30 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for declines
Verb
-
The place is decaying and strict, but Luna refuses to give in to its rules.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
-
But Chiles refuses to let anyone’s score define her.—
Essence,
Essence,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Naturally, Meredith completely denies this and says that Britani is only bringing this up because her own relationship is such a disaster.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The government denies holding political prisoners.—
Stefano Pozzebon,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
So Nude pair falls neatly in line — proof that even in full-metal glamour, minimalism with an edge is having a very good year.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Sabrina Carpenter’s chart-topping Man’s Best Friend slips 5-6 on the latest Billboard 200 with 38,000 equivalent album units earned (down 8%), while Olivia Dean’s The Art of Loving falls 6-7 (37,000, down 3%).—
Keith Caulfield,
Billboard,
9 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The Backyard cast also features Katie MacNichol as Gladys’ daughter Ellen, Alexander Ameen as Ellen’s husband Howard, and William Huffaker as a young painter from Boston named Don Bowman whom Gladys seeks to help even as her mental state deteriorates.—
David L. Coddon,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 Nov. 2025
-
As the situation deteriorates, the United Kingdom, the United States and Germany among others have urged their nationals to leave Bamako.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Nobody was questioning it when Salah produced arguably his best season for the club to spearhead Liverpool’s title charge, but when the output decreases and opponents see that flank as a weakness, perceptions change.—
The Athletic's Liverpool staff,
New York Times,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Towing capacity decreases 1,000 pounds to, 4,000 pounds.—
Mark Phelan,
Freep.com,
11 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
That plunges her into dreamlike visions on Mita, a sinister entity feeding on her pain.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
3 Nov. 2025
-
While the filmmaker’s first nine movies were modestly budgeted — see Inherent Vice (2014) or Hard Eight (1996) — the $140 million One Battle, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, plunges Anderson into franchise-like economics.—
Peter Bart,
Deadline,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The largest dips were in Wyoming, down 99%, followed by Rhode Island, down 90%, and Nevada, down 76%.—
Jonathan Lansner,
Oc Register,
6 Nov. 2025
-
When houses go dark and demand dips, power prices often nosedive.—
Sophie Hartley,
IndyStar,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The mission, the fourth of 2025, would also be Starship's first flight since May 27 amid a year plagued by explosive demises for the vehicle.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
26 Aug. 2025
-
But a good time in enviable vacation spots is guaranteed, with ghoulish demises for many principal figures here served up like caviar on sashimi.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
7 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Declines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/declines. Accessed 20 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share