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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in denying
to be unwilling to grant
declined our request to hold a party
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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
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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
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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
Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 9 Jan. 2026
After all, there are signs that the economy is improving (unemployment and inflation are declining), but after the economic struggles of recent years, and with household debt still high, an additional financing source won't hurt, either.
—Matt Richardson, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
The consequences of declining literacy extend far beyond grades, classroom performance, or even future careers.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 9 Jan. 2026
In addition to business climate challenges, Minnesota is also facing workforce challenges due to declining birth rates and net migration.
—Mars King, Twin Cities, 9 Jan. 2026
That’s an important media lesson with our fragmented landscape and declining trust in media.
—Ben Smith, semafor.com, 9 Jan. 2026
For a leadership grappling with economic exhaustion, declining legitimacy, and looming succession questions, Venezuela is a case study of endurance.
—Sanam Vakil, Time, 8 Jan. 2026
In 2025, climate change’s impacts were felt throughout the state, from devastating wildfires to a thinning snowpack and declining kelp forests.
—Chaewon Chung
updated January 8, Sacbee.com, 8 Jan. 2026
The town’s only other water resource is groundwater, which is rapidly declining in the Cave Creek area.
—Austin Corona, AZCentral.com, 6 Nov. 2025
Adjective
While pruning, remove any winter damage, along with dead and declining growths, to allow new shoots to reform the plant.
—Verb
According to the company, the declining profits stemmed from low drug reimbursement rates and slow retail sales.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for declining
Noun
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Wholesale market prices for milk, cheese and butter have been lower than normal for about a year, but had more of a significant decline in the past six months, Cain said.—
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Today, similar prudence animates concerns about NATO and broader trans-Atlantic ties in an era when Europe has undergone profound transformations through mass migration, supranational governance, demographic decline, and shifting cultural priorities.—
Verb
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By March, school districts across California are supposed to implement new guidance from the attorney general, including by clearly marking non-public areas and codifying a system for refusing access to immigration officers.—
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On the play before his score, Allen gained 10 yards on a sneak, refusing to go down while being pushed and pulled to the goal line.—
Verb
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Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell released a video statement on Sunday night denying criminal wrongdoing shortly after the Department of Justice opened an investigation into him.—
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The vaccine misinformation advanced by the president and his science-denying Secretary of Health and Human Services is taking its toll on vaccination rates.—
Verb
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Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
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Shop my favorite airport looks for winter travel below, with each outfit falling at or below $100.—
Verb
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For now, all that can be said for certain, judging by the latest implosion in his current employers West Ham’s fast-deteriorating season, is that nobody has benefited from his falling-out with Edu and the sequence of events that brought about Nuno’s exit from the City Ground.—
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Iran has been racked by protests over the past several days around deteriorating economic conditions in the country, made worse by a growing water crisis and severe sanctions against Tehran.—
Verb
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For women, this meant decreasing intake to about 400 to 600 calories three days per week, while men reduced calories to around 500 to 700.—
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An expensive habit with a decreasing ROI.—
Verb
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Jenner, 28, meanwhile, wore a black chainmail Versace gown with a plunging neckline and lace insets along the sides.—
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The Housemaid star showed off her tan lines in an ultra-plunging asymmetrical minidress with a corset bodice.—
Adjective
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James O’Donoghue, a planetary scientist with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, likened our planet’s tilting phenomenon to a nodding head.—
Cite this Entry
“Declining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/declining. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
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