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

\/\/ declined<\/em> his party's nomination<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When might 'refuse' be a better fit than 'decline'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

While in some cases nearly identical to decline<\/em>, refuse<\/em><\/a> suggests more positiveness or ungraciousness and often implies the denial of something asked for.<\/p>

\/\/ refused<\/em> to lend them the money<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When would 'reject' be a good substitute for 'decline'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The words reject<\/em><\/a> and decline<\/em> can be used in similar contexts, but reject<\/em> implies a peremptory refusal by sending away or discarding.<\/p>

\/\/ rejected<\/em> the manuscript as unpublishable<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is it sensible to use 'repudiate' instead of 'decline'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The synonyms repudiate<\/em><\/a> and decline<\/em> are sometimes interchangeable, but repudiate<\/em> implies a casting off or disowning as untrue, unauthorized, or unworthy of acceptance.<\/p>

\/\/ teenagers who repudiate<\/em> the values of their parents<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Where would 'spurn' be a reasonable alternative to 'decline'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

While the synonyms spurn<\/em><\/a> and decline<\/em> are close in meaning, spurn<\/em> stresses contempt or disdain in rejection or repudiation.<\/p>

\/\/ spurned<\/em> his overtures of friendship<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How is the word 'decline' different from other verbs like it?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

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

\/\/ declined<\/em> his party's nomination<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When might 'refuse' be a better fit than 'decline'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

While in some cases nearly identical to decline<\/em>, refuse<\/em><\/a> suggests more positiveness or ungraciousness and often implies the denial of something asked for.<\/p>

\/\/ refused<\/em> to lend them the money<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When would 'reject' be a good substitute for 'decline'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The words reject<\/em><\/a> and decline<\/em> can be used in similar contexts, but reject<\/em> implies a peremptory refusal by sending away or discarding.<\/p>

\/\/ rejected<\/em> the manuscript as unpublishable<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When is it sensible to use 'repudiate' instead of 'decline'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

The synonyms repudiate<\/em><\/a> and decline<\/em> are sometimes interchangeable, but repudiate<\/em> implies a casting off or disowning as untrue, unauthorized, or unworthy of acceptance.<\/p>

\/\/ teenagers who repudiate<\/em> the values of their parents<\/p>" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Where would 'spurn' be a reasonable alternative to 'decline'?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "

While the synonyms spurn<\/em><\/a> and decline<\/em> are close in meaning, spurn<\/em> stresses contempt or disdain in rejection or repudiation.<\/p>

\/\/ spurned<\/em> his overtures of friendship<\/p>" } } ] }

decline 1 of 2

verb

di-ˈklÄ«n 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-ˈklÄ«n 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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in declination
a change to a lower state or level the decline of the Roman Empire

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

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
Democratic leadership declined to move the DHS funding bill forward, and the effects are already visible. —Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026 Google declined to comment on its own model, Gemini. —Allison Parshall, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026
Noun
Chun pointed to dramatic declines in the cost of the LiDAR sensor that helps each robot see things that its cameras might miss. —Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 25 Mar. 2026 That idealized story is based on real change in a region that suffered extraordinary structural decline when a century of dependence on heavy industry imploded in the 1970s. —Christopher Briem, The Conversation, 25 Mar. 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
  • Almost every Democrat who responded blamed Republicans for refusing to reopen most of DHS while continuing to negotiate on immigration enforcement funding.
    — Arden Farhi, CBS News, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Trump has refused the latest proposal, and talks have stalled.
    — Rebecca Santana, Chicago Tribune, 24 Mar. 2026
Definition of refuse
Verb
  • In a telephone interview with Kyodo News on Friday, Araghchi denied closing the passageway, insisting instead that countries attacking Iran face restrictions, while others were being offered assistance.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2026
  • It was denied state subsidies, records show.
    — Uwa Ede-Osifo, Dallas Morning News, 21 Mar. 2026
Definition of deny
Verb
  • By late Sunday night into Monday midday, a strong cold front clears the region, ending the storms and bringing gusty winds with falling temperatures through the day.
    — Andrew Kozak, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
  • Outside of Wall Street, stock indexes fell sharply in Europe following their wipeouts on Thursday.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 21 Mar. 2026
Definition of fall
Verb
  • For years, lawyers have alleged that inmates receive expired, undercooked or contaminated food, including spoiled meat and deteriorated dairy products.
    — Michael Rios, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2026
  • Now the war has turned into a race to stabilize the rapidly deteriorating global economic order, central to which is reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
    — Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2026
Definition of deteriorate
Verb
  • Declining spring precipitation and rising temperatures have caused the Colorado’s flow to decrease by nearly 20 percent over the past quarter century.
    — Mira Rojanasakul, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026
  • After the 15th Street bike lanes were constructed, bicycle injury crashes decreased by 91 percent, according to the District Department of Transportation.
    — Liam Scott, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2026
Definition of decrease
Verb
  • A weeks-long cold snap in January and February plunged the city into a deep freeze.
    — Matthew Villafane, CBS News, 22 Mar. 2026
  • The whole ship plunged briefly into darkness, before the emergency power system kicked in.
    — Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
Definition of plunge
Noun
  • Lifting them exposes the materials to rapid changes in pressure, temperature, and oxygen levels, which can accelerate deterioration or trigger instability.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 25 Mar. 2026
  • The dramatic move offers the latest evidence of the deterioration in relations between Lebanon and Iran.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Mar. 2026
Definition of deterioration
Noun
  • 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
  • Of the 395 complaints the division received, 306 were resolved through determinations or declinations.
    — Editorial, Boston Herald, 9 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 27 Mar. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of decline for Spanish Speakers

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