DECLINES Synonyms: 418 Similar and Opposite Words

declines 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of decline

as in refuses

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

as in denies

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in falls

to go to a lower level especially abruptly new-car sales declined to their lowest level in years

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in deteriorates

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

as in decreases

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

as in plunges

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

declines

2 of 2

noun

plural of decline

as in deteriorations

a change to a lower state or level the decline of the Roman Empire

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in dips

a downward slope the bicyclist lost control on the unexpectedly steep decline

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in demises

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

as in reductions

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

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 declines

Verb

Consumer Edge data similarly showed McDonald's year-over-year spending share declines narrowing across every income group in September. — Brandon Gomez, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026 Given her experience, Emily declines to participate in another trial. — Caitlin Huston, HollywoodReporter, 10 Oct. 2026 Hur’s film declines to say who was behind the attack, and its detractors argue the open ending points the finger at Park or his government. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 7 Oct. 2026 Don’t wait until performance declines to question your systems, structure or strategy. — James Barlow, Forbes.com, 5 Oct. 2026 Assuming Holmes declines that option and becomes a free agent, the Cubs will be dealing with a set of circumstances similar to what led them to acquire him from the New York Mets at the trade deadline. — Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026 In Ghana, for instance, the ten shrines of the Asante Traditional Buildings are endangered as traditional stewardship by master craftspeople declines. — News Desk, Artforum, 2 Oct. 2026 Research from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) finds that worker productivity declines as temperatures rise. — Mitch New, Fortune, 30 Sep. 2026

Noun

West Coast gateways gained share, while several East and Gulf Coast ports recorded declines. — Glenn Taylor, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026 Whenever monthly margin debt has grown above 45% year over year since 1960, there were declines in the stock market five out of six times, data from Fundstrat Global Advisors shows. — Sean Conlon, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026 According to the study, published in Neurology, people who got more physical activity experienced slower declines in movement and thinking skills over time, suggesting that staying active may be associated with slower disease progression. — Jennifer Fields, Washington Post, 8 Oct. 2026 Our study found physical activity may have dual benefits, with associations with slower declines in movement and cognition. — Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 8 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for declines

Verb

That ending In the film, Bela refuses to let Other Mommy into her heart, per the demon’s constant request.

— William Earl, Variety, 9 Oct. 2026
Jackie is one reason the earlier book refuses to become a simple brief for more voluntary family.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of refuses

Verb

Islamabad has repeatedly accused Afghanistan's Taliban government of providing sanctuary to TTP militants, an allegation Kabul denies.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026
Rights groups have, however, accused the country of sportswashing to cover up its reputation for silencing critics, including accusations of killings and disappearances, allegations the government denies.

— Damian Zane, semafor.com, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of denies

Verb

In July, Reeves shared a brief clip of test footage of the upcoming film, which included the first proper look at Pattinson’s Bruce Wayne in a new Batsuit as what appears to be snow falls around him.

— Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026
Margins shrink, investment capacity falls and businesses have fewer resources to innovate or improve the underlying infrastructure.

— Sanjay Ghare, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026

Definition of falls

Verb

The front finally moves through on Friday, but some heavy rain will still be possible early, before the chance of rain decreases into the weekend.

— Michael Autovino, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026
The Nebraska researchers also found that hafnia becomes more stable as its thickness decreases.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of decreases

Verb

This Victoria Falls masterpiece is, as its name suggests, modeled on the rich colors of one of the world’s most spectacular waterfalls, which sits on the border between Zambia and Zimbabwe where the Zambezi River plunges over a basalt cliff.

— Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 3 Oct. 2026
The film plunges James deep into the wilds with his retired military dog Odin after their small plan crash lands during a camping trip.

— Emily Zemler, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Sep. 2026

Definition of plunges

Noun

Turkish food with menu items like mezza dips, Greek salad, lamb chops and kebabs, falafel, seafood and more.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 6 Oct. 2026
What’s more, the mixes can be used straight from the envelope as a dry rub for meat, as a base for dips, or even as a popcorn seasoning.

— Alaina Chou, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 Oct. 2026