DECLINE Synonyms: 444 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

decline 1 of 2

verb

di-ˈklīn

Definition of decline

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to deny

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to fall

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

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as in to deteriorate

to become worse or of less value his reputation as a writer began to decline not long after his death

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as in to decrease

to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually the winds should decline as soon as the cold front passes

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as in to plunge

to lead or extend downward the bike path declines toward the riverbank and then follows the river for several miles

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decline

2 of 2

noun

di-ˈklīn

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

as in declination

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

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as in downhill

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in demise

a loss of status the engagement at the small club was an unmistakable sign of the rock band's decline

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as in decrease

the amount by which something is lessened a huge decline in the value of the artwork after its authenticity was questioned

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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

Williams, who pleaded guilty to killing Kamarie Holland, declined to appeal and requested that his death sentence be carried out. — CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026 The singer has declined interview requests to discuss the land purchase. — Paul Rogers, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2026

Noun

Fast Company reported that Albertsons had a net decline of 26 stores in 2025, and so far in 2026, Albertsons has closed or will close 12 stores. — Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 12 Aug. 2026 In fact, the growing trend has served as a lifeline for some independent production companies that have been able to expand their slates with brand content even as TV production declines and feature films remain as challenging as ever to get made. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for decline

Recent Examples of Synonyms for decline

Verb

But the other main parties called it a stunt and refused to take part, leaving Farage running against an assortment of independents, jokers and single-issue candidates led by Count Binface, a comic space alien with a trash can on his head.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
Despite this, Miller has refused to drop out, holding out past the Monday deadline for Ohio Republicans to nominate a new candidate.

— Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of refuse

Verb

An agreement between Tehran and Washington is yet to materialize, with prospects for a deal appearing to deteriorate over the weekend.

— Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 11 Aug. 2026
In the provincial capital Pontianak, schools suspended in-person classes after air quality deteriorated to unhealthy levels and health officials reported a rise in respiratory illnesses.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of deteriorate

Verb

Some of the commitments of the CROP plan is to decrease communitywide greenhouse gas emissions 30% by 2030, and achieve communitywide net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

— Cam'ron Hardy, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
The Palm Beach County school district, like its Broward and Miami-Dade counterparts, is facing the issue of decreasing enrollment.

— Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of decrease

Verb

The stock plunged after SpaceX said in its first earnings report late Tuesday that capital expenditures were more than twice as high as revenue.

— Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 6 Aug. 2026
While on an anniversary trip with her husband, Bernadette Vander Meer plunged to her death from the iconic Angels Landing tower in Zion National Park.

— Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of plunge

Noun

Caregivers like Sherwood report mass burnout, financial strain and deterioration of their own physical and mental health from the stress of providing constant care.

— Madeline Mitchell, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026
The county has been attempting to chip away at its road maintenance backlog for years, but much of its transportation budget has gone toward preventing further deterioration.

— Madison Smalstig, Sacbee.com, 5 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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Style

“Decline.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/decline. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of decline

verb

noun

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