as in bowing
bending downward or forward the declining flowers perked up with the gentle rainfall
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as in decline
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Dissimilar Words
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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2
as in denying
to be unwilling to grant declined our request to hold a party
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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
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 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 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 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
Matt Richardson, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026
Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026 Birth rates and fertility trends The administration is overhauling Title X in the context of declining birth rates. —Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026 The gradual drop-off in prices is due to a declining number of bird flu cases following a major outbreak in commercial flocks and egg-laying hens last winter. —Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026 Investors have largely overlooked Tesla’s declining auto sales as Musk reorients the company around futuristic pursuits including robotaxis and humanoid robots. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026 According to the study, mortality rates peaked in 2004 before declining sharply and remaining relatively low until 2020. —Armando Garcia, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026 In some parts of Florida, the declining childhood vaccination rates reflect a decline in public health confidence and an increase in vaccine hesitancy. —Cindy Krischer Goodman, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026 Nationally, measles vaccination rates among kindergartners have been declining. —Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026 After years of struggle and declining enrollment, the end could be coming for George Washington Carver School of Arts and Sciences. —Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 16 Apr. 2026
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 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 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
Noun
Reports showing inflation and unemployment declining have subsequently been released, and a nominee for the Federal Reserve chairman role has since been announced. —Matt Richardson, CBS News, 26 Feb. 2026
Verb
The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office also reviewed evidence from West Jordan before declining to file charges. —Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026 Birth rates and fertility trends The administration is overhauling Title X in the context of declining birth rates. —Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News, 16 Apr. 2026 The gradual drop-off in prices is due to a declining number of bird flu cases following a major outbreak in commercial flocks and egg-laying hens last winter. —Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026 Investors have largely overlooked Tesla’s declining auto sales as Musk reorients the company around futuristic pursuits including robotaxis and humanoid robots. —Bloomberg, Mercury News, 16 Apr. 2026 According to the study, mortality rates peaked in 2004 before declining sharply and remaining relatively low until 2020. —Armando Garcia, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026 In some parts of Florida, the declining childhood vaccination rates reflect a decline in public health confidence and an increase in vaccine hesitancy. —Cindy Krischer Goodman, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2026 Nationally, measles vaccination rates among kindergartners have been declining. —Los Angeles Times, 16 Apr. 2026 After years of struggle and declining enrollment, the end could be coming for George Washington Carver School of Arts and Sciences. —Graham Womack, Sacbee.com, 16 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for declining
Noun
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This year’s inductees for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame lean far too male and over 60, with the class consisting of only six women spread among all of the categories — a disappointing decline after some notable changes following the departure of chairman Jann Wenner.— Devon Ivie, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2026
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Relegation would trigger massive declines in matchday, broadcast and commercial revenue.— Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In 1999, the IRS and the Department of Justice served him with an order requiring him to appear in federal court and explain why he shouldn’t be held in contempt for refusing to disclose information about his bank accounts and assets.— Jacqueline Munis, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026
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The new fines will range from $100 up to $1,000 for each offense, including increasing rent, decreasing services or refusing to renew a rental agreement because the tenant has complained about a housing violation in good faith.— Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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His complaint alleged that the state’s actions had left him with a financial burden of more than $20,000 per year by denying the vouchers to both of his children.— BrieAnna J. Frank, USA Today, 11 Apr. 2026
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Pressed by rival camps, pursued by the political press corps, the claims were largely confined to unvetted corners of the internet until this week, when Swalwell’s campaign — knowing the whispers were getting louder — issued a public statement denying any wrongdoing.— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The school calendar’s architects also had the benefit of a number of school holidays falling over weekends, including Rosh Hashanah, Diwali and Juneteenth.— Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
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Officials said seven of the victims were struck by gunfire, while others were hurt in the chaos as people scrambled to get down from the pyramids, with some falling during the panic.— Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Boyd window has undergone conservation in the past, including restoration work in the 1990s to address deteriorating elements.— Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
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The film resurfaced after a collection of deteriorating nitrate reels was submitted to the Library of Congress by a Michigan man who inherited them from his great-grandfather.— Ryan Brennan, Sacbee.com, 20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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There are three Elvi (Tyler Hanes, Colton Sims and Charles Adler Bischoff at the Marriott, in decreasing order of age).— Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
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Despite being a required vaccine in all states to attend public school, rates have been steadily decreasing over the last decade, CDC data shows.— Arthur Jones II, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Shares of Adobe, the owner of Photoshop and other tools, have been punished lately, plunging 40% below their May 2025 high and into a bear market.— Sarah Min, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2026
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Snow is expected to spread across the area Friday morning, followed by a hard freeze overnight that could send temperatures plunging to between 18 and 25 degrees, according to the National Weather Service office in Boulder.— Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 17 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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James O’Donoghue, a planetary scientist with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, likened our planet’s tilting phenomenon to a nodding head.— Aylin Woodward, WSJ, 21 Dec. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Declining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/thesaurus/declining. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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