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
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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
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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
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5
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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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
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1
as in deteriorations
a change to a lower state or level
the decline of the Roman Empire
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2
as in dips
a downward slope
the bicyclist lost control on the unexpectedly steep decline
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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
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Recent Examples of declines
Michelle Fox, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2025
Then the real value of dollars, meaning their purchasing power, declines.
—Hersh Shefrin, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Men seem to be happiest when their wives’ income reaches about 40% of their own, and then their happiness declines beyond that threshold.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025
Chicago police Superintendent Larry Snelling rebuked a Northwest Side alderman who expressed skepticism this week about Chicago’s year-over-year crime declines as the city girds itself ahead of a possible deployment of National Guard troops.
—Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
Already, sharks face many threats in our rapidly shifting world, including habitat loss, fishery declines, poaching, and even impaired senses.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2025
Unlike ETFs that move in close correlation with bitcoin prices, these companies can experience dramatic stock declines even when the underlying crypto asset price remains relatively stable.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
This research is notable for being one of the first long-term studies to quantify insect declines in a pristine environment relatively untouched by humans.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2025
Applebee’s recently managed its first quarter of same-store sales growth after eight consecutive declines, a faint improvement, but one that pales in comparison to the surge at Chili’s or the steady gains at Olive Garden.
—Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
That’s the longest stretch of declines since 2020.
—Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 6 Sep. 2025
Early-career workers ages 22 to 25 in jobs most exposed to AI automation, such as software development and customer service, have seen steep relative declines in employment, according to findings in a paper from Stanford University’s Digital Economy Lab.
—Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025
Such declines occurred 88% of the time following significant Fed actions.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 5 Sep. 2025
Paluel faced similar power declines in 2016 when a steam generator weighing more than 450 tons collapsed while being moved, causing the plant to be shut down before coming back online a year later.
—Theo Burman
shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
Since Schulman joined, the company has successfully stemmed the double-digit sales declines of the past year and outstripped growth expectations for the first fiscal quarter.
—Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
Bonnie Treichel, an attorney who specializes in ERISA, expects more firms to seize on private assets as the number of public companies declines and the private market grows.
—Michelle Fox, CNBC, 8 Sep. 2025
Then the real value of dollars, meaning their purchasing power, declines.
—Hersh Shefrin, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Men seem to be happiest when their wives’ income reaches about 40% of their own, and then their happiness declines beyond that threshold.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2025
Chicago police Superintendent Larry Snelling rebuked a Northwest Side alderman who expressed skepticism this week about Chicago’s year-over-year crime declines as the city girds itself ahead of a possible deployment of National Guard troops.
—Sam Charles, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2025
Already, sharks face many threats in our rapidly shifting world, including habitat loss, fishery declines, poaching, and even impaired senses.
—Lauren Leffer, Popular Science, 27 Aug. 2025
Unlike ETFs that move in close correlation with bitcoin prices, these companies can experience dramatic stock declines even when the underlying crypto asset price remains relatively stable.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
Noun
Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois led the declines, while just a few additional states saw price drops.
—Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2025
This research is notable for being one of the first long-term studies to quantify insect declines in a pristine environment relatively untouched by humans.
—Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 7 Sep. 2025
Applebee’s recently managed its first quarter of same-store sales growth after eight consecutive declines, a faint improvement, but one that pales in comparison to the surge at Chili’s or the steady gains at Olive Garden.
—Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 6 Sep. 2025
That’s the longest stretch of declines since 2020.
—Bloomberg News, Boston Herald, 6 Sep. 2025
Early-career workers ages 22 to 25 in jobs most exposed to AI automation, such as software development and customer service, have seen steep relative declines in employment, according to findings in a paper from Stanford University’s Digital Economy Lab.
—Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2025
Such declines occurred 88% of the time following significant Fed actions.
—Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 5 Sep. 2025
Paluel faced similar power declines in 2016 when a steam generator weighing more than 450 tons collapsed while being moved, causing the plant to be shut down before coming back online a year later.
—Theo Burman
shane Croucher, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025
Since Schulman joined, the company has successfully stemmed the double-digit sales declines of the past year and outstripped growth expectations for the first fiscal quarter.
—Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for declines
Verb
-
Although many philosophers and theologians accept mortality as an inevitable and indeed defining feature of human existence, Kurzweil refuses to accept this line of thinking.—
Tim Brinkhof,
Big Think,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Dusk refuses, choosing ruin instead.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Trump denies any involvement in the note.—
Lauren Villagran,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Cook, who denies any wrongdoing, is he first Black female Fed governor.—
Dan Mangan,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Oregon rises after beating Oklahoma State by 66, while Clemson falls after trailing Troy at halftime before a 27-16 win.—
Chris Vannini,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
Raising systemic issues and then resolving them with humor falls flat for this critic.—
Beandrea July,
IndieWire,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This means green signals are inherently weaker, and when outdoor sunlight adds noise, the measurement range shrinks even further, and accuracy deteriorates.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Sep. 2025
-
When trust between boards and CEOs deteriorates, cracks spread quickly.—
Julian Hayes II,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Treatment during the chronic, asymptomatic phase may prevent or slow disease progression, though effectiveness decreases with time.—
Matthew Binnicker,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
-
This risk decreases as the storm moves away.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Regardless, that slight is the last thing Prater hears before Dexter plunges a knife into his heart.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Their investigation plunges them into the shadowy corners of New York and beyond—where the trio uncovers a dangerous web of secrets connecting powerful billionaires, old-school mobsters, and the mysterious residents of the Arconia.—
Jessica Radloff,
Glamour,
1 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Some common examples include push-ups, bench presses, chest presses and dips.—
Melissa Rudy,
FOXNews.com,
13 Sep. 2025
-
An adjacent storefront will eventually be stocked with wine, home goods and take-home versions of their dishes, such as pimento cheese and smoked catfish dips.—
Miguel Otárola,
Denver Post,
12 Sep. 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 14 Sep. 2025.
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