decline 1 of 2

verb

di-ˈklīn How to pronounce decline (audio)
Definition of declinenext
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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to deny
to be unwilling to grant declined our request to hold a party

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to fall
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 to deteriorate
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 to decrease
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 to plunge
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

decline

2 of 2

noun

di-ˈklīn How to pronounce decline (audio)
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in declination
a change to a lower state or level the decline of the Roman Empire

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in downhill
a downward slope the bicyclist lost control on the unexpectedly steep decline

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in demise
a loss of status the engagement at the small club was an unmistakable sign of the rock band's decline

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word decline different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of decline are refuse, reject, repudiate, and spurn. While all these words mean "to turn away by not accepting, receiving, or considering," decline often implies courteous refusal especially of offers or invitations.

declined his party's nomination

When might refuse be a better fit than decline?

While in some cases nearly identical to decline, refuse suggests more positiveness or ungraciousness and often implies the denial of something asked for.

refused to lend them the money

When would reject be a good substitute for decline?

The words reject and decline can be used in similar contexts, but reject implies a peremptory refusal by sending away or discarding.

rejected the manuscript as unpublishable

When is it sensible to use repudiate instead of decline?

The synonyms repudiate and decline are sometimes interchangeable, but repudiate implies a casting off or disowning as untrue, unauthorized, or unworthy of acceptance.

teenagers who repudiate the values of their parents

Where would spurn be a reasonable alternative to decline?

While the synonyms spurn and decline are close in meaning, spurn stresses contempt or disdain in rejection or repudiation.

spurned his overtures of friendship

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 decline
Verb
Ford and General Motors declined to comment on the situation when contacted by Fortune. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026 Charles declined to comment and instead directed a reporter to contact his attorney. — Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 27 Aug. 2026
Noun
That decline is the mechanical explanation for why benefits can run so far ahead of what any individual retiree paid in. — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026 So far, the decline in enrollment at traditional public school number is even greater than last year and exceeds early projections. — Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for decline
Recent Examples of Synonyms for decline
  1. refuse
  2. deny
  3. fall
  4. deteriorate
  5. decrease
  6. plunge
  7. deterioration
  8. declination
Verb
  • The filing accused Thomas of having refused to allow nannies into his house with his daughter, including one assigned by the court, and of using drugs.
    — Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Aug. 2026
  • When the district refused to scrap those policies, the agency rescinded the unrelated federal grants.
    — Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of refuse
Verb
  • During a month in detention, Khan was denied access to medications for hypothyroidism, high blood pressure and glaucoma, according to testimony by her daughter, Riya Khan.
    — Sofia Williams, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026
  • He was then kept at Palace the following season playing just eight times, being denied the opportunity for a temporary move away, before playing 36 times for Sheffield United in the Championship in 2024-25, scoring seven times.
    — Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of deny
Verb
  • The continent's sweltering summer has meanwhile boosted demand for air conditioning and other energy-hungry appliances at a time when demand for gas, widely used for Europe's heating and cooking needs, naturally falls.
    — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The Oscar winner paired a leopard-print Givenchy fall 2026 dress and the fashion house’s modern take on T-strap high heels.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of fall
Verb
  • Behrouz Mehri | Afp | Getty Images France's deteriorating public finances and political deadlock are becoming a growing concern for bond investors, with borrowing costs near financial-crisis-era highs as another difficult budget battle looms.
    — Chloe Taylor, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Israel has seen its own relations with Turkey deteriorate during Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s more than two-decade rule.
    — Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of deteriorate
Verb
  • Travel data shows the average group size for trips has decreased since COVID-19 began.
    — Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
  • To continue decreasing the vacancy rate, Center City Partners has focused on older buildings that aren’t as appealing to a return-to-office workforce That focus is on renovations or conversions.
    — Desiree Mathurin, Charlotte Observer, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of decrease
Verb
  • The sleeveless dress, designed by Carolina Herrera creative director Wes Gordon as part of the fashion house's pre-fall 2026 collection, featured a plunging halter neckline, fitted ruched bodice and full midi-length skirt.
    — Sameen Chaudhry, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Urban— who finalized his divorce from Kidman in January— coordinated with his former wife in a plunging black pinstripe dress shirt, a matching blazer jacket, and matching trousers.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of plunge
Noun
  • The City is aware of deterioration to the pavers surrounding the memorial related to the seawall conditions in this section of the Riverwalk.
    — Bri Buckley, CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The deterioration in DeepMind’s talent flows coincided with the lab tightening its publication rules, Hurd said, something that Zeki researchers say may have weakened one of the lab’s most important draws for research-minded staff.
    — Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of deterioration
Noun
  • The declinations came as the DOJ reassigned and cut prosecutors working on environmental cases.
    — Ken B. Morales, ProPublica, 31 Mar. 2026
  • Federal regulations require special counsels to provide the attorney general with a report that explain prosecution or declination decisions once their work is concluded.
    — Jacob Rosen, CBS News, 23 Feb. 2026
Definition of declination

Browse Nearby Words

declinations
decline
declined
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Cite this Entry

“Decline.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decline. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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