1
as in to refuse
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
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2
as in to deny
to be unwilling to grant
declined our request to hold a party
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3
as in to fall
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 to deteriorate
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 to decrease
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 to plunge
to lead or extend downward
the bike path declines toward the riverbank and then follows the river for several miles
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1
as in deterioration
a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body
her sad decline from a robust athlete to an old woman with arthritis
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2
as in declination
a change to a lower state or level
the decline of the Roman Empire
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3
as in downhill
a downward slope
the bicyclist lost control on the unexpectedly steep decline
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4
as in demise
a loss of status
the engagement at the small club was an unmistakable sign of the rock band's decline
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5
as in decrease
the amount by which something is lessened
a huge decline in the value of the artwork after its authenticity was questioned
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of decline
Shawn McFarland, Dallas Morning News, 9 Jan. 2026
The unions and the AMPTP declined to comment on the bargaining dates.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 9 Jan. 2026
Alexa Herrera, CBS News, 8 Jan. 2026
Framed as wellness, the experience kinda reframes a daily routine into a constant reminder of biological decline.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 8 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for decline
Verb
The Rangers hired Kyle Moore to manage Round Rock after the club declined to renew Doug Davis’ contract after last season.
—Noun
The institute's executive director, Grace Rauh, previously told CBS News New York there was a major decline in the number of providers available due to rising costs.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for decline
Verb
-
According to the Union Parish Sheriff’s Office, deputies were dispatched in November to a residence in the Linville community of Marion after a caller reported a neighbor standing in their driveway screaming and refusing to leave the property despite having been warned previously.—
-
Some exemptions for law enforcement agencies exist, but Cal-OSHA claims the sheriff’s office refused to prove its exemption, according to court documents.—
Verb
-
He was charged with first-degree murder but denied any involvement.—
-
Squeeze Burger announced Tuesday that its sole remaining brick-and-mortar in Roseville is set to close later this month, after its proposal for a new lease was reportedly denied.—
Verb
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Two things happened on that blustery back-to-school morning that fell exactly a month after my eleventh birthday.—
-
Midway through the third quarter, true freshman linebacker Mason Posa, buried on the depth chart just weeks ago, ripped the ball loose at Washington’s 7-yard line and fell on it himself.—
Verb
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The price of gold, long understood to be the investor’s refuge against a deteriorating dollar, is sounding an alarm.—
-
When those conditions are absent, performance deteriorates quickly.—
Verb
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Newsom claims homelessness decline Newsom during his final State of the State address Thursday claimed the state’s homeless population decreased last year.—
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Meanwhile, the number of job openings have decreased nearly 10% on the year to 729,000 in the September to November period from a year ago, the ONS found.—
Verb
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These two conflicts heat up very quickly, with Dale plunging his elbow into the soup and then getting in Ron’s face, telling him to kiss it.—
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The buttery soft, stretchy nylon is accented with a plunging V-neckline and pretty lace trim.—
Noun
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With the deterioration and rise of crime in South Beach in the late 1970s, as well as inflation and the shrinking tourist business, the Famous was forced to close in 1981.—
-
While analysts do not expect the rift to escalate into direct conflict, even a limited deterioration could carry far-reaching consequences.—
Noun
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Nachmanoff pressed the Justice Department over whether a formal declination memo deciding against charges for Comey exists.—
-
McLaughlin characterized the Fullerton officer’s response as a declination to help.—
Cite this Entry
“Decline.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decline. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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