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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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
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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
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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
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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
Ted Johnson, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2025
If either side declines to pick up their side of the option, as seems likely, Steer and the left-handed-hitting Will Benson could form a platoon in left field to replace Hays, with TJ Friedl in center and Noelvi Marte in right.
—C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
The brand counts two boutiques in Paris and two in Shanghai, with plans to expand in the Chinese market, as well as 50 wholesale stockists including Harrods in London, Printemps in New York and Antonia in Milan (the company declines to disclose its turnover).
—Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 1 Oct. 2025
VO2 max, which tests the maximum amount of oxygen used up during exercise, typically declines with age.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 1 Oct. 2025
Many of our schools are seeing year-over-year enrollment declines; local administrators now whisper about whether campuses might need to close.
—Belal Aftab, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025
Netanyahu warned that if Hamas declines, Israel will act independently to pursue its objectives in Gaza.
—Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
As of Thursday, Drewry’s World Container Index (WCI) plummeted another 8 percent to $1,761 per 40-foot container, marking the 15th straight week of container price declines.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 29 Sep. 2025
As China’s population declines, young workers face a mountain of public sector debt, youth unemployment, and low salaries.
—Renaud Foucart, Time, 28 Sep. 2025
Benzinga, Freep.com, 4 Oct. 2025
Further, persistent energy shortages in Cuba have led to steep declines in agricultural and industrial production.
—Joseph J. Gonzalez, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025
In the 25-54 demo, all the major news networks saw declines in September and Q3.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2025
Stocks were knocked down a bit in afternoon trading by declines in key technology names like Palantir Technologies, Tesla and Nvidia.
—Sean Conlon,pia Singh, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2025
Even so, both Democratic and Republican officials have pointed to declines in some crime categories this year.
—Hanna Park, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
According to the Freedom House survey, 2005 was the last year when global movement toward democracy outnumbered declines.
—Richard Stengel, Time, 1 Oct. 2025
Bill Adams, chief economist for Comerica Bank, noted in a statement to Fortune that this result was worse than expected, with ADP now reporting declines in three of the past four months.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
In the second quarter, Target once again experienced sales and profit declines, though for most of Cornell’s 11-year tenure as CEO, Target showed great growth.
—David Moin, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2025
Verb
Fox News showed year-over-year viewership growth in the September ratings, while CNN and MSNBC saw significant audience declines.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2025
If either side declines to pick up their side of the option, as seems likely, Steer and the left-handed-hitting Will Benson could form a platoon in left field to replace Hays, with TJ Friedl in center and Noelvi Marte in right.
—C. Trent Rosecrans, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
The brand counts two boutiques in Paris and two in Shanghai, with plans to expand in the Chinese market, as well as 50 wholesale stockists including Harrods in London, Printemps in New York and Antonia in Milan (the company declines to disclose its turnover).
—Laure Guilbault, Vogue, 1 Oct. 2025
VO2 max, which tests the maximum amount of oxygen used up during exercise, typically declines with age.
—Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 1 Oct. 2025
Many of our schools are seeing year-over-year enrollment declines; local administrators now whisper about whether campuses might need to close.
—Belal Aftab, Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2025
Netanyahu warned that if Hamas declines, Israel will act independently to pursue its objectives in Gaza.
—Anna Commander, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
As of Thursday, Drewry’s World Container Index (WCI) plummeted another 8 percent to $1,761 per 40-foot container, marking the 15th straight week of container price declines.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 29 Sep. 2025
As China’s population declines, young workers face a mountain of public sector debt, youth unemployment, and low salaries.
—Renaud Foucart, Time, 28 Sep. 2025
Noun
General Motors fell 3% despite EV sales doubling from 2024, Ford rose 2% and Stellantis surged 14% as sales rose after eight quarters of declines.
—Benzinga, Freep.com, 4 Oct. 2025
Further, persistent energy shortages in Cuba have led to steep declines in agricultural and industrial production.
—Joseph J. Gonzalez, The Conversation, 3 Oct. 2025
In the 25-54 demo, all the major news networks saw declines in September and Q3.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2025
Stocks were knocked down a bit in afternoon trading by declines in key technology names like Palantir Technologies, Tesla and Nvidia.
—Sean Conlon,pia Singh, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2025
Even so, both Democratic and Republican officials have pointed to declines in some crime categories this year.
—Hanna Park, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2025
According to the Freedom House survey, 2005 was the last year when global movement toward democracy outnumbered declines.
—Richard Stengel, Time, 1 Oct. 2025
Bill Adams, chief economist for Comerica Bank, noted in a statement to Fortune that this result was worse than expected, with ADP now reporting declines in three of the past four months.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2025
In the second quarter, Target once again experienced sales and profit declines, though for most of Cornell’s 11-year tenure as CEO, Target showed great growth.
—David Moin, Footwear News, 1 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for declines
Verb
-
Advertisement Mun-ju refuses to leave him.—
Kayti Burt,
Time,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Or, maybe someone who currently lives with you refuses to take ownership of perpetuating the mess downstairs.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
If the judge denies the defense motion, the court would then move toward scheduling Trauernicht’s trial.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The union denies having any role in the slowdown of the nation's airspace in 2019.—
Joel Rose,
NPR,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Dalio also warned that the most misleading signals come near the top, where easy credit boosts spending, asset prices climb, unemployment falls.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
4 Oct. 2025
-
And if the burden falls on local authorities, the global non-government organization (NGO) predicted annual costs could reach 200 million pounds (about $269 million) by 2035.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Sourcing Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Breaking them down to save for a later date isn’t enough, as bugs will still nestle their way in even as the cardboard deteriorates.—
Mary Cornetta,
Better Homes & Gardens,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Advertisement Our hygiene deteriorates.—
Eli Sharabi,
Time,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Magnesium absorption decreases with higher dosages.—
Trang Tran,
Verywell Health,
7 Oct. 2025
-
As the storm moves away, this likelihood decreases.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Continue reading … DIGITAL DARKNESS – Taliban plunges Afghanistan into darkness as UN issues urgent warning.—
,
FOXNews.com,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Also, any excuse to watch Bill Nighy, who stars as Doctor Lazarus, whose death plunges his forensic psychologist son (Sam Clafin) into a labyrinth of family mysteries.—
Emily Temple
September 30,
Literary Hub,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Past patterns suggest that when a president’s approval dips below 50 percent, their party may face setbacks in congressional contests, especially in battleground areas where independents and moderates hold sway.—
Kate Plummer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
-
And the Stars were less dominant in his five-on-five minutes, primarily due to defensive dips.—
The Athletic NHL,
New York Times,
3 Oct. 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 9 Oct. 2025.
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