DECLINING Synonyms: 355 Similar and Opposite Words

declining 1 of 3

adjective

di-ˈklī-niŋ

Definition of declining

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

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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as in denying

to be unwilling to grant declined our request to hold a party

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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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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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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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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

When Russians embrace the Eurasian narrative, they are also engaged in the political project of rejecting Europe and the West, which Putin and his allies deride as decadent, declining, and immoral. — Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026 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

Parents, students, and educators raised concerns Wednesday night about Broward County Public Schools' proposal to close several schools as the district grapples with declining enrollment and significant funding shortfalls. — Abby Dodge, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026 Across the city and the country, declining attendance has idled many religious buildings, often leading to conversions. — Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026 For many rural Pennsylvania communities with aging populations, declining tax bases and labor shortages, these costs can be a challenge. — Kaleigh Yost, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2026 Gaspafotos/Getty Images His team selection against Forest suggests the head coach is cognizant of Tottenham’s declining effectiveness as a set-piece animal. — Elias Burke, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026 Karishma Manzur, a medical scientist and first-time candidate, supported Medicare for All and abolishing ICE while declining money from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC. — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2026 Additionally, the drug supply is always changing, with the potency of fentanyl declining in recent years. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 3 Sep. 2026 More broadly, linear channels in particular, are really feeling the pinch, with budgets and new slots declining. — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2026 Wilson joined Phillips in 2018 as chief general counsel and was then given the big job as chief executive officer during the company’s difficult period grappling with declining sales and its relationship with Russia. — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for declining

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

Verb

The engineer abruptly resigned after refusing to contribute to a reckless corporate competition that could ultimately lead to uncontrollable AI.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026
Failing the exam or refusing to take it is proof of the need for civil commitment.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of refusing

Verb

The league also took a hard, public stance in the Brendan Sorsby situation by denying the former Texas Tech quarterback entry to the supplemental draft.

— Saad Yousuf, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
Amazon discriminated against pregnant warehouse employees by denying accommodations like bathroom breaks and the option to sit while working, according to a lawsuit filed yesterday by four women who worked for Amazon while pregnant.

— Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 9 Sep. 2026

Definition of denying

Verb

The key to why scores are falling so widely may be found in an accompanying survey taken by students.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2026
Volatility tends to ease in November, with the VIX falling around 4% as the midterm results remove a key political overhang and provide investors with greater clarity on the policy backdrop, said James Ooi, market strategist at Tiger Brokers.

— Joanna Ossinger,Justina Lee, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of falling

Verb

But even with its new foundation and sweeping ceiling, the history of the old, deteriorating barn won’t be lost.

— Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2026
In the four months before killing her three children and attempting to kill herself, Lindsay Clancy desperately sought help for her deteriorating mental condition.

— Tara Bannow, STAT, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of deteriorating

Verb

Sydney Sweeney walked the red carpet in a completely sheer dress, while Brittany Snow turned heads in a black dress with a plunging neckline.

— Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2026
It’s set on a remote farm nestled high in the Rocky Mountains in the early 1950s, and the images — of jutting peaks and plunging valleys, of endless stretches of pine, of the craggy frosted grandeur of it all — are vivid enough to carry you away.

— Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of plunging

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“Declining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/declining. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of declining

adjective

noun

verb

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