as in bowing
bending downward or forward
the declining flowers perked up with the gentle rainfall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
as in decline
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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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
Andrea Kane, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
Many consumers have started to turn their backs on luxury goods; fed up with a lack of ingenuity, skyrocketing daily expenses, and arguably declining quality, shoppers are thinking twice before splurging on designer items.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2025
Claressa Shields may not have gotten her wish, with Laila Ali declining $15 million to get in the ring, but that hasn’t stopped her from throwing jabs.
—Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 15 Oct. 2025
Everything is flattened into contrarianism and conspiracy theories, which is an effective way of capitalizing on the public’s rapidly declining trust in traditional journalism.
—T. M. Brown, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2025
Spotted skunks are a species of concern because scientists are unsure why its population has been declining in recent years, says Mengak.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2025
The letter followed a number of airports nationwide declining to play the video, saying their facilities' policies bar the showing of political content.
—Ayesha Ali, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2025
The film chronicles his immigration from Hungary and rise to stardom, both as the star of Dracula on Broadway and the Hollywood adaptation, as well as his precipitous fall after declining the role of Frankenstein, which went to his future rival Boris Karloff.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2025
The region’s multifamily market has softened amid a historic increase in supply at the same time that demand has softened because of declining job growth.
—Matthew Geiger, Denver Post, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
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
Screening is key Across all ages, colorectal cancer cases and related deaths in the US have been declining for decades, Ng said, attributing that success to improvements in treatment and public health efforts to promote screening.
—Andrea Kane, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
Many consumers have started to turn their backs on luxury goods; fed up with a lack of ingenuity, skyrocketing daily expenses, and arguably declining quality, shoppers are thinking twice before splurging on designer items.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2025
Claressa Shields may not have gotten her wish, with Laila Ali declining $15 million to get in the ring, but that hasn’t stopped her from throwing jabs.
—Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 15 Oct. 2025
Everything is flattened into contrarianism and conspiracy theories, which is an effective way of capitalizing on the public’s rapidly declining trust in traditional journalism.
—T. M. Brown, New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2025
Spotted skunks are a species of concern because scientists are unsure why its population has been declining in recent years, says Mengak.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2025
The letter followed a number of airports nationwide declining to play the video, saying their facilities' policies bar the showing of political content.
—Ayesha Ali, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2025
The film chronicles his immigration from Hungary and rise to stardom, both as the star of Dracula on Broadway and the Hollywood adaptation, as well as his precipitous fall after declining the role of Frankenstein, which went to his future rival Boris Karloff.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2025
The region’s multifamily market has softened amid a historic increase in supply at the same time that demand has softened because of declining job growth.
—Matthew Geiger, Denver Post, 14 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for declining
Verb
-
One person was arrested after blocking the roadway and refusing to move their vehicle, Lee said, adding that the person was later transported for medical reasons but remains subject to arrest.—
Stephanie Murray,
AZCentral.com,
18 Oct. 2025
-
In August 2023, the airline apologized to two passengers who were escorted off a plane after refusing to sit in a soiled seat.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The prince also accused his father of cutting him off financially, and Meghan said the royals discussed denying their children prince and princess titles and police protection.—
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Oct. 2025
-
Democrats are using their only point of leverage in the minority — denying the GOP enough votes to advance the stopgap funding bill passed by the House — as a way to force a debate about expiring health care subsidies.—
Deirdre Walsh,
NPR,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This just makes the upcoming six-game homestand critical for the Wild in not falling too far behind in the Western Conference.—
Joe Smith,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
-
After the Federal Reserve cut interest rates for the first time since December 2024 last month, experts projected that rates would continue falling—even if ever so slightly.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Nandi is experiencing severe insomnia, tremors and psychosis, and her quickly deteriorating condition bewilders the emergency room staff.—
Sandee LaMotte,
CNN Money,
21 Oct. 2025
-
An inspection also calls attention safety issues that require repairs, like cracks, a deteriorating liner, or problems with the flue or chimney cap.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
High pressure will build in behind the storm, resulting in dry weather and decreasing winds.—
Dakin Andone,
CNN Money,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Moreover, parlay bets are getting more complicated as time goes on, decreasing the chances of winning.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The floor-length gown featured a plunging v-neck that didn't leave much to the imagination, as well as a thigh-high slit that gave the musician the chance to show off her legs — and her strappy black Giuseppe Zanotti heels.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
-
The overall look was softened with French lace detailing at the plunging neckline and skirt of the dress.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Since 1928, significant market declines of at least 5% have happened in 92 out of 98 years.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
22 Oct. 2025
-
One of the most popular college majors is seeing a significant decline in graduates, according to a new report from AEI.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Oct. 2025
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 24 Oct. 2025.
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