as in bowing
bending downward or forward
the declining flowers perked up with the gentle rainfall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in decline
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in denying
to be unwilling to grant
declined our request to hold a party
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of declining
Tom MacCubbin, orlandosentinel.com, 6 Mar. 2021
In order to reopen, counties must demonstrate declining prevalence of COVID-19, testing ability of 30 tests per 10,000 residents per week, contact tracing and isolation facilities.
—Fox News, 15 May 2020
Remove dead and declining portions back to the healthy trunks or to the ground.
—Tom MacCubbin, orlandosentinel.com, 23 Nov. 2019
During replanting, remove dead and declining portions, including old roots.
—Tom MacCubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, 26 May 2018
The team then built mathematical models using the same data to assess how declining immunity might affect the susceptibility of the U.S. population.
—Roni Dengler, Science | AAAS, 21 Mar. 2018
Prune away dead or declining plant portions affected by summer weather or pests.
—Tom MacCubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, 26 Aug. 2017
According to a new analysis by the McKinsey Global Institute, 81 percent of the United States population is in an income bracket with flat or declining income over the last decade.
—Neil Irwin, New York Times, 6 Aug. 2016
Adjective
While pruning, remove any winter damage, along with dead and declining growths, to allow new shoots to reform the plant.
—Tom MacCubbin, orlandosentinel.com, 6 Mar. 2021
In order to reopen, counties must demonstrate declining prevalence of COVID-19, testing ability of 30 tests per 10,000 residents per week, contact tracing and isolation facilities.
—Fox News, 15 May 2020
Remove dead and declining portions back to the healthy trunks or to the ground.
—Tom MacCubbin, orlandosentinel.com, 23 Nov. 2019
During replanting, remove dead and declining portions, including old roots.
—Tom MacCubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, 26 May 2018
The team then built mathematical models using the same data to assess how declining immunity might affect the susceptibility of the U.S. population.
—Roni Dengler, Science | AAAS, 21 Mar. 2018
Prune away dead or declining plant portions affected by summer weather or pests.
—Tom MacCubbin, OrlandoSentinel.com, 26 Aug. 2017
According to a new analysis by the McKinsey Global Institute, 81 percent of the United States population is in an income bracket with flat or declining income over the last decade.
—Neil Irwin, New York Times, 6 Aug. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for declining
Noun
-
In Florida, nearly all 67 counties saw a decline in childhood immunizations among kindergartners since COVID came in 2020, state data shows.—
Michelle Marchante,
Miami Herald,
15 Mar. 2025
-
In the late nineteenth century, the Ottoman Empire, fearing decline, pursued modernizing reforms.—
Charlie Tyson,
The New Yorker,
15 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The Governor of Smolensk Region claims that all drones were successfully shot down, and the fire was caused by falling debris.—
George Monastiriakos,
Newsweek,
31 Dec. 2024
-
Clearly, this only constitutes a small blip as things stand and hardly a sign everything is falling apart.—
Simon Johnson,
The Athletic,
31 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Her body is deteriorating in front of us, and yet my daughter and her vet say, if (the dog) looks happy, leave her be.—
Joan Morris,
The Mercury News,
30 Dec. 2024
-
With the relationship between the two companies deteriorating, Qualcomm may have to consider using another architecture before its ALA expires in 2033.—
Jim McGregor,
Forbes,
20 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
The foxes then take a great leap into the air and dive nose-first, often plunging so deep into the whiteness that only their tail and hind legs stick out.—
Nell Greenfieldboyce,
NPR,
27 Dec. 2024
-
Hwang Dong-hyuk’s Netflix sensation returned on December 26 after more than three years, plunging Seong Gi-hun (Lee Jung-jae) back into the world of deadly children’s games played by desperate adults competing for money.—
Proma Khosla,
IndieWire,
27 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Roads and bridges are designed with strict weight limits for a reason: excessive loads accelerate structural deterioration, leading to costly repairs and safety hazards.—
Ydanis Rodriguez,
New York Daily News,
9 Mar. 2025
-
In addition to this, using excessive water or harsh chemical cleaners can then lead to moisture accumulation around window seals, which can potentially cause mould growth or deterioration of the frame around the windows.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
8 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The 33-year-old also clarified his relationship with Sayed, denying any romantic involvement in a series of candid posts.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
26 Dec. 2024
-
Whatever the purpose, there’s no denying the best carry-on luggage is a traveler’s best ally.—
Nicole Kliest,
Vogue,
24 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Anyone who was wrongly dipping into the OT kitty for themselves or others has to be found and exiled from the high command, if not fired outright.—
New York Daily News Editorial Board,
New York Daily News,
24 Dec. 2024
-
Temperatures are dipping again in Alaska over the next six to 10 days, with far northern reaches of the state expecting below-average temperatures and near-normal temperatures forecast for much of the rest of the Last Frontier, according to a forecast from the NWS Climate Prediction Center.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
23 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Highly flammable tamarisk shrubs have taken root in thick stands near streams in the western US, and eucalyptus — one of the primary invasive trees blamed for worsening Chile’s recent wildfires as well as fires in Portugal — increases wildfire risk in California.—
Kylie Mohr,
Vox,
8 Jan. 2025
-
The United States withdrew its forces from Europe while demanding debt payments from allies, who passed the costs on to Germany, worsening its financial turmoil and hastening its slide into Nazism.—
Michael Beckley,
Foreign Affairs,
7 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Declining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/declining. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
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