declining 1 of 3

adjective

di-ˈklī-niŋ How to pronounce declining (audio)
Definition of decliningnext
as in bowing
bending downward or forward the declining flowers perked up with the gentle rainfall

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declining

2 of 3

noun

as in decline

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Dissimilar Words

declining

3 of 3

verb

present participle of decline
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

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2
as in denying
to be unwilling to grant declined our request to hold a party

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3
as in falling
to go to a lower level especially abruptly new-car sales declined to their lowest level in years

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4
as in deteriorating
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 decreasing
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 plunging
to lead or extend downward the bike path declines toward the riverbank and then follows the river for several miles

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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
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 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
There has been a lot of hand-wringing about the declining population of Los Angeles County, which lost 54,000 people from July 2024 to July 2025, the biggest numeric population drop in the nation during that period, by far. — Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026 For years now, Olathe Schools has talked about its problem of declining enrollment. — Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2026 However, local journalism's ability to cover these profound changes is severely declining, with a 75% drop in local reporting since the early 2000s. — Shalin Jyotishi, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026 Faced with shrinking attention spans and declining comprehension, schools might have been expected to resist the impulse toward shorter passages and shallower reading. — Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026 The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ own 10-year projections already point to declining participation, Ullrich said, and those projections predate the current immigration restrictions. — Catherina Gioino, Fortune, 8 July 2026 Walmart won't say, declining any comment to USA TODAY beyond a press release the retailer issued on July 6. — Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 8 July 2026 In a new report released Wednesday, the university highlighted higher than average earnings, accelerated social mobility and declining student debt for its graduates. — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 2 July 2026 And, unlike 100 years ago, the country now faces a declining population and work force. — Albert Sun, New York Times, 2 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for declining
  1. nodding
  2. decline
  3. refusing
  4. denying
  5. falling
  6. deteriorating
  7. decreasing
  8. plunging
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
Definition of nodding
Noun
  • If inflation is outpacing nominal interest rates, the real return on bonds and other income-producing assets declines or even becomes negative.
    — Faith Wakefield, USA Today, 8 July 2026
  • This decline has pinched profit margins in the 401(k) world, said Kai Richter, an attorney with Cohen Milstein who has long specialized in ERISA class-action cases.
    — Paul Kiel, ProPublica, 8 July 2026
Definition of decline
Verb
  • The discipline is refusing to play the obvious one, which is accepting the first answer.
    — Terry Oroszi, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
  • This season,, Sanders is and refusing to look ahead when asked about the team’s first two Big 12 games against Baylor and the league’s defending champions, Texas Tech.
    — Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 July 2026
Definition of refusing
Verb
  • This has been compounded by massive cuts in international aid and a Taliban government that has sidelined half of Afghanistan’s population, denying women and girls education beyond primary school and banning them from the vast majority of jobs.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 8 July 2026
  • Similar restrictions have been challenged elsewhere, including in Georgia, where a federal judge ruled that denying hormone therapy to incarcerated people violated the Eighth Amendment.
    — Ben Wheeler, Kansas City Star, 8 July 2026
Definition of denying
Verb
  • The skyscraper has been the subject of multiple complaints, including allegations of falling debris and unsafe conditions, records show.
    — Kelly McCleary, CNN Money, 8 July 2026
  • After receiving a report of bricks falling from the 37-story building, fire officials said two columns had buckled on the 21st and 22nd floors, while floors were sagging between the 21st and 26th floors.
    — Jane Onyanga-Omara, USA Today, 8 July 2026
Definition of falling
Verb
  • In 1922, Kenmore House was deteriorating, and the Kenmore Association and Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) needed $30,000 for its repairs and restoration.
    — Anne Byrn, Southern Living, 2 July 2026
  • And his political standing is now suddenly deteriorating to the point where Congress is maybe losing some of its fear, and there may be a different Congress after November.
    — David Frum, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026
Definition of deteriorating
Verb
  • But the population of mule deer has been steadily decreasing since the 1970s, leading some scientists to theorize that the newly resurgent wolves are relying on other prey, including beavers, rabbits and livestock, the 2021 report states.
    — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 8 July 2026
  • On Sunday, there is a 15% to 30% chance of rain, with the chances decreasing throughout the day.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 8 July 2026
Definition of decreasing
Verb
  • Handwerker revealed that Gerber joined her mom at the event with a second photo posted on July 5, which showed the Mother Mary actress wearing a bodycon black gown with a plunging sweetheart neckline that dipped to her ribs.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 5 July 2026
  • Olandria Carthen attended the 2026 BET Awards in Los Angeles wearing a bright yellow gown with a plunging neckline and daringly high slit.
    — Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026
Definition of plunging

Browse Nearby Words

declines (in)
declining
declining (in)
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Cite this Entry

“Declining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/declining. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on declining

Nglish: Translation of declining for Spanish Speakers

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