as in bowing
bending downward or forward
the declining flowers perked up with the gentle rainfall
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as in decline
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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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2
as in denying
to be unwilling to grant
declined our request to hold a party
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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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Cite this Entry
“Declining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/declining. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.
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