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
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
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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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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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
Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
Conversely, declines in the short-term interest rate partially mitigated the overall rise in payments.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 12 Jan. 2026
If your neighbor declines the request or pushes back, stay calm, avoid escalation, and seek alternative solutions, Grotts says.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 12 Jan. 2026
In IconArrows pointing outwards For the year-to-date, which includes last Friday’s BRK declines, the S&P is around 2 1/2 percentage points ahead, with or without the index’s dividends included.
—Alex Crippen, CNBC, 10 Jan. 2026
If Colorado declines to write a new plan, the EPA could impose one on the state.
—Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 9 Jan. 2026
Violent crime declines across Maryland Homicides in Maryland declined by 25%, non-fatal shootings by 28% and robberies by 25% in 2025, compared to 2024, according to the governor's office.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
Yet, there is evidence that as Cuba’s economy declines, so too does support for the regime.
—Joseph J. Gonzalez, Washington Post, 8 Jan. 2026
Independent energy analyst Rachel Ziemba, who agrees major oil companies may hesitate, also notes that declines in the price of crude – the raw material for consumer products like gasoline – are often not fully passed on to consumers.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 12 Jan. 2026
Those declines were sharper among more affluent households and younger shoppers, with a 7 percentage point year-over-year drop among households with an annual income of more than $100,000 and a 6 percentage point year-over-year fall among shoppers between the ages of 25 and 34, the survey found.
—Melissa Repko, CNBC, 12 Jan. 2026
Trump has threatened to militarily confront Mexican cartels, but Sheinbaum cited Mexico’s sovereignty and recent progress—homicide declines and fentanyl seizures.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
November and December are traditionally slow, but the year-over-year declines are partly because imports in late 2024 were elevated by concerns over port strikes.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 12 Jan. 2026
While those declines are expected to be gradual, any movement downward helps buyers who otherwise may have been stuck on the sidelines waiting for an affordable moment to act.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
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
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
Verb
As Gustav aims to work his way back into their lives, Nora retreats into isolation as her mental health increasingly declines.
—Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 12 Jan. 2026
Conversely, declines in the short-term interest rate partially mitigated the overall rise in payments.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 12 Jan. 2026
If your neighbor declines the request or pushes back, stay calm, avoid escalation, and seek alternative solutions, Grotts says.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 12 Jan. 2026
In IconArrows pointing outwards For the year-to-date, which includes last Friday’s BRK declines, the S&P is around 2 1/2 percentage points ahead, with or without the index’s dividends included.
—Alex Crippen, CNBC, 10 Jan. 2026
If Colorado declines to write a new plan, the EPA could impose one on the state.
—Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 9 Jan. 2026
Violent crime declines across Maryland Homicides in Maryland declined by 25%, non-fatal shootings by 28% and robberies by 25% in 2025, compared to 2024, according to the governor's office.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
Yet, there is evidence that as Cuba’s economy declines, so too does support for the regime.
—Joseph J. Gonzalez, Washington Post, 8 Jan. 2026
Independent energy analyst Rachel Ziemba, who agrees major oil companies may hesitate, also notes that declines in the price of crude – the raw material for consumer products like gasoline – are often not fully passed on to consumers.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 5 Jan. 2026
Noun
Like California, New York state has also seen production spend declines as studio slates have contracted.
—Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 12 Jan. 2026
Those declines were sharper among more affluent households and younger shoppers, with a 7 percentage point year-over-year drop among households with an annual income of more than $100,000 and a 6 percentage point year-over-year fall among shoppers between the ages of 25 and 34, the survey found.
—Melissa Repko, CNBC, 12 Jan. 2026
Trump has threatened to militarily confront Mexican cartels, but Sheinbaum cited Mexico’s sovereignty and recent progress—homicide declines and fentanyl seizures.
—Los Angeles Times, 12 Jan. 2026
November and December are traditionally slow, but the year-over-year declines are partly because imports in late 2024 were elevated by concerns over port strikes.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 12 Jan. 2026
While those declines are expected to be gradual, any movement downward helps buyers who otherwise may have been stuck on the sidelines waiting for an affordable moment to act.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for declines
Verb
-
Unlike many artists who separate those worlds, Sierota refuses to see them as competing forces.—
Holly Alvarado,
Daily News,
14 Jan. 2026
-
But Googoosh, now 75, refuses to be silenced.—
Saba Hamedy,
NBC news,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The federal determination highlights how permitting males to compete on female teams displaces female athletes from podiums, denies them advancement opportunities, and diminishes their visibility and recognition in competitions.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Verse’s desk is in front of Young’s in the room, and one day when Verse leaned back his hood allegedly dragged across Young’s desktop, an accusation that Verse still denies.—
Adam Grosbard,
Oc Register,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Worse, the tariff burden is a regressive tax that falls hardest on lower-income households and small businesses with less bargaining power.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
13 Jan. 2026
-
There’s nothing as cozy as snuggling up in front of the fire while snow falls peacefully outside.—
Cori Sears,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
When those conditions are absent, performance deteriorates quickly.—
Katerin Le Folcalvez,
Fortune,
8 Jan. 2026
-
The Kyiv Post reported Thursday that Ukrainian military officials say Russian units left inside the city are cut off from reliable supply lines and are increasingly surrendering as their position deteriorates.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
26 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
This risk decreases as the storm moves away.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
4 Jan. 2026
-
Prescribed medication is used to manage discomfort, which usually decreases noticeably after the first week.—
Daniel Fusch,
USA Today,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The teaser plunges viewers into the world of two content creators from contrasting backgrounds who unite for a collaboration fueled by curiosity, social media clout and mutual attraction.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Their love scene in the rain, while obviously less visually spectacular than in the film, plunges headlong into romantic cliches that manage to get the job done despite their obviousness.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Morelia Paletas recently opened there, as well, bringing another location in Charlotte to customize its fruity Mexican paletas with dips and toppings.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Miles McBride’s field goal attempts are also up, while both Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby have seen shot dips, too.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
No reason was provided for the shops’ demises.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
26 Nov. 2025
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Declines.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/declines. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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