decline synonyms

decline

n.

deterioration, dissolution, lessening, slump; see decay 1, drop 2.

decline

v.

  1. To refuse

    reject, turn down, beg to be excused, send regrets; see refuse.

  2. To decrease

    diminish, wane, dwindle, fade; see decrease 1.

  3. To sink slowly

    descend, dip, droop, settle; see descend 1, lean 1, sink 1.

  4. To deteriorate

    fail, sink, degenerate, backslide; see decay, weaken 1. See syn. study at refuse.

Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.