as in bowing
bending downward or forward
we awaited our punishment with declined heads
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in refused
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in denied
to be unwilling to grant
declined our request to hold a party
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in fell
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 deteriorated
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 decreased
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 plunged
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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for declined
Verb
-
He’s played in 17 of 34 games ever since, felled by a torn ACL, a concussion, an ankle injury and a wrist injury that needed surgery.—
Jerry McDonald,
The Mercury News,
24 Feb. 2025 -
He remains deeply saddened by the death of his favorite politician, former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, felled by an assassin's bullets.—
Tom Rogers,
Newsweek,
21 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
The inside story of how this relationship deteriorated is worth a read.—
Chris Branch,
The Athletic,
8 Jan. 2025
-
The increase in tests came as relations with the United States and its regional allies deteriorated and Pyongyang pulled closer to Russia.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
7 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Then, the country's population plunged by at least 30 million people.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
23 Dec. 2024
-
In March, 2000, the dot-com bubble finally burst, and during the subsequent eighteen months the Nasdaq plunged about seventy per cent, inflicting huge losses on those who had got in near the market top.—
John Cassidy,
The New Yorker,
23 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Both Madigan and McClain have denied wrongdoing.—
Megan Crepeau,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 2025
-
In instances when those requests were denied, workers often chose to resign instead of putting their health at risk.—
William Melhado,
Sacramento Bee,
6 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The stock prices of some alcohol manufacturers, including Anheuser-Busch and Molson Coors, dipped Friday after the release of the surgeon general advisory.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA TODAY,
3 Jan. 2025
-
For the full year, sales of the Traverse dipped 14% to 105,835 sold.—
Jamie L. LaReau,
Detroit Free Press,
3 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
However, wider market fundamentals have not materially altered and have somewhat worsened.—
Gaurav Sharma,
Forbes,
22 Dec. 2024
-
Many industries, such as financial services, have worsened.—
Nadia Edwards-Dashti,
Forbes,
20 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Recession fears have diminished, inflation is trending back toward 2 percent, and the labor market has rebalanced, but remains strong.—
Tom Rogers,
Newsweek,
26 Dec. 2024
-
The theme of running recurred, as did moments of isolation, with Abraham appearing preoccupied and diminished, unable to fully participate as the others moved around him.—
Jennifer Homans,
The New Yorker,
23 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
As tens of thousands of visitors from around the world descended on Miami for the city’s annual art celebration, a lucky few were invited to an immersive experience that blended contemporary art with fashion, mixology, and luxury travel.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
23 Dec. 2024
-
The House descended into chaos Wednesday when the GOP revolt sank a last-minute funding measure to keep the government operating through early next year.—
Kaia Hubbard,
CBS News,
19 Dec. 2024
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.
Cite this Entry
“Declined.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/declined. Accessed 5 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share