as in bowing
bending downward or forward
the declining flowers perked up with the gentle rainfall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in decline
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
1
as in refusing
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in denying
to be unwilling to grant
declined our request to hold a party
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in falling
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 deteriorating
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 decreasing
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 plunging
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
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 declining
Tom MacCubbin, orlandosentinel.com, 6 Mar. 2021
In order to reopen, counties must demonstrate declining prevalence of COVID-19, testing ability of 30 tests per 10,000 residents per week, contact tracing and isolation facilities.
—Fox News, 15 May 2020
During replanting, remove dead and declining portions, including old roots.
—Tom MacCubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, 26 May 2018
The team then built mathematical models using the same data to assess how declining immunity might affect the susceptibility of the U.S. population.
—Roni Dengler, Science | AAAS, 21 Mar. 2018
According to a new analysis by the McKinsey Global Institute, 81 percent of the United States population is in an income bracket with flat or declining income over the last decade.
—Neil Irwin, New York Times, 6 Aug. 2016
Matt Richardson, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026
Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
Nor can conversation alone prepare students for a world shaped by AI, polarization and declining trust in institutions.
—Rajiv Vinnakota, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Bank of America global research found that pet adoptions slowed in the first half of 2025, with dog adoptions declining modestly year over year and cat adoptions staying stable.
—Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 28 May 2026
Sadly, bat populations are declining rapidly in North America.
—The Conversation, Fortune, 14 May 2026
Siena Heights, founded by the Adrian Dominican Sisters in 1919, is the latest in a wave of smaller private and faith-based colleges to close in Michigan amid declining enrollment and financial strain.
—CBS News, 14 May 2026
Schoenbrun’s third feature, Teenage Sex & Death at Camp Miasma stars Einbinder as an enthusiastic young director who is tasked with resurrecting the Camp Miasma slasher franchise after years of subpar sequels and declining fandom.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 14 May 2026
Overall, the district continues to struggle with declining enrollment and looming pressures to close schools, as well as long-term pension and retiree benefit obligations.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
The deal essentially provides a declining cable asset with low-cost programming while offering aTwist projects greater visibility and an additional revenue window.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
Adjective
While pruning, remove any winter damage, along with dead and declining growths, to allow new shoots to reform the plant.
—Tom MacCubbin, orlandosentinel.com, 6 Mar. 2021
In order to reopen, counties must demonstrate declining prevalence of COVID-19, testing ability of 30 tests per 10,000 residents per week, contact tracing and isolation facilities.
—Fox News, 15 May 2020
During replanting, remove dead and declining portions, including old roots.
—Tom MacCubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, 26 May 2018
The team then built mathematical models using the same data to assess how declining immunity might affect the susceptibility of the U.S. population.
—Roni Dengler, Science | AAAS, 21 Mar. 2018
According to a new analysis by the McKinsey Global Institute, 81 percent of the United States population is in an income bracket with flat or declining income over the last decade.
—Neil Irwin, New York Times, 6 Aug. 2016
Noun
Reports showing inflation and unemployment declining have subsequently been released, and a nominee for the Federal Reserve chairman role has since been announced.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026
Verb
Gasoline inventories continue to fall sharply, declining last week to the lowest May level since 2014.
—Kevin Liptak, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
Nor can conversation alone prepare students for a world shaped by AI, polarization and declining trust in institutions.
—Rajiv Vinnakota, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
Bank of America global research found that pet adoptions slowed in the first half of 2025, with dog adoptions declining modestly year over year and cat adoptions staying stable.
—Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 28 May 2026
Sadly, bat populations are declining rapidly in North America.
—The Conversation, Fortune, 14 May 2026
Siena Heights, founded by the Adrian Dominican Sisters in 1919, is the latest in a wave of smaller private and faith-based colleges to close in Michigan amid declining enrollment and financial strain.
—CBS News, 14 May 2026
Schoenbrun’s third feature, Teenage Sex & Death at Camp Miasma stars Einbinder as an enthusiastic young director who is tasked with resurrecting the Camp Miasma slasher franchise after years of subpar sequels and declining fandom.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 14 May 2026
Overall, the district continues to struggle with declining enrollment and looming pressures to close schools, as well as long-term pension and retiree benefit obligations.
—Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 14 May 2026
The deal essentially provides a declining cable asset with low-cost programming while offering aTwist projects greater visibility and an additional revenue window.
—Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 14 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for declining
Noun
-
But the decline actually ended years ago, and the latest numbers from the American Booksellers Association show independent stores expanding at a pace not seen this century.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 May 2026
-
Mutant cells in the aging brain, meanwhile, appear to contribute to cognitive decline.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
And refusing to keep any kind of part-time income trickling in only further complicates the situation.—
Wes Moss,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
-
Mayor Steven Streit presented the rise of data centers and the AI industry as inevitable, and said that the city had a chance to benefit by meeting the new industry on its terms and imposing restrictions rather than refusing it completely.—
Evy Lewis,
Chicago Tribune,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
During Britney Spears’ DUI arrest in Ventura County in March, the pop star, at points, refused to comply with law enforcement, denying being under the influence and offering to make lasagna for officers rather than exit her car, video and reporting released by various outlets Thursday showed.—
Sean Campbell,
Sacbee.com,
22 May 2026
-
The Copperhead may be named after a different snake than the Viper, but there’s not denying that the two cars share DNA.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Colorado went from being the odds-on favorite to win the Stanley Cup to falling eight wins short of that goal in a span of seven days.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
27 May 2026
-
Lee had fouled off a pair of pitches to begin the at-bat, falling behind 0-2 before his big swing.—
Betsy Helfand,
Twin Cities,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
The project, which began with foundation work in 2022 and expanded to roadway construction in 2023, includes replacing the deteriorating bridge deck, widening shoulders and adding carpool lanes in both directions.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
22 May 2026
-
The technical setup is deteriorating, too, as fewer stocks participate in the rally and momentum stalls.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
His attorney, Doug Kelley, released a statement touting successes during O'Hara's tenure, including diversifying and increasing the department's ranks, the decreasing violent crime rate and mitigating violent clashes during the immigration crackdown.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 May 2026
-
Some residents have raised concerns about how cutting property taxes would impact the city’s financial health by decreasing revenue.—
Tess Riski
May 28,
Miami Herald,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Unfortunately, announced investment plans for clean tech manufacturing totaled just $2 billion in the quarter, plunging by 79% from 2025’s first quarter and the lowest level in more than five years.—
Alan Ohnsman,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
-
The bride-to-be wore a white halterneck gown with a plunging neckline and front tie closure.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
PEOPLE,
25 May 2026
Adjective
-
James O’Donoghue, a planetary scientist with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, likened our planet’s tilting phenomenon to a nodding head.—
Aylin Woodward,
WSJ,
21 Dec. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Declining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/declining. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
