declining 1 of 3

adjective

di-ˈklī-niŋ How to pronounce declining (audio)
Definition of decliningnext
as in bowing
bending downward or forward the declining flowers perked up with the gentle rainfall

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declining

2 of 3

noun

as in decline

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declining

3 of 3

verb

present participle of decline
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
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 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
When Russians embrace the Eurasian narrative, they are also engaged in the political project of rejecting Europe and the West, which Putin and his allies deride as decadent, declining, and immoral. — Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026 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 Republican party has promised a return to the good ol’ days, with strong nuclear families at the crux and a fight against the declining birth rate. — Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 3 Sep. 2026 Additionally, the drug supply is always changing, with the potency of fentanyl declining in recent years. — Theresa Gaffney, STAT, 3 Sep. 2026 More broadly, linear channels in particular, are really feeling the pinch, with budgets and new slots declining. — Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 3 Sep. 2026 Chief Justice Sharon Kennedy denied Shirilla's motion for reconsideration after her attorneys asked the state's highest court to revisit its June 23 decision declining to review her case, according to court records. — Michael Sinkewicz, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Both Villalobos and Dotres have said more schools will need to close in the near future in response to declining student enrollment and the resulting drop in per-pupil funding. — Austin Horn september 2, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026 Court filings detail declining applications, enrollment, student withdrawals The court filings shed light on the recent decline in Wisconsin in international students, from undergraduate to doctoral, as well as visiting researchers and professors. — Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 2 Sep. 2026 Wilson joined Phillips in 2018 as chief general counsel and was then given the big job as chief executive officer during the company’s difficult period grappling with declining sales and its relationship with Russia. — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 2 Sep. 2026 In addition to declining enrollment, Idaho districts are dealing with funding challenges. — Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 27 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for declining
  1. nodding
  2. decline
  3. refusing
  4. denying
  5. falling
  6. deteriorating
  7. decreasing
  8. plunging
Adjective
  • 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
Definition of nodding
Noun
  • Larger coupon payments now provide a cushion against further price declines, unlike the low-yield environment earlier this decade.
    — Lee Ying Shan, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Later, Hammer filmed her body’s visible decline from a long battle with cancer, concluding with her death in 2019 at age 79.
    — Rachel Handler, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of decline
Verb
  • Biscayne 21’s declaration — the document that establishes the condominium — required a unanimous vote to terminate the building’s condo association, a goal that seemed unlikely with a group of residents refusing to sell.
    — Catherine Odom, Miami Herald, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Court records show Romo was cited for refusing to take a test for intoxication and first offense OWI.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of refusing
Verb
  • The film follows a daughter trying to accompany her mother through her final stage, navigating the challenge of remaining close without denying the loss or imposing a particular way of experiencing it.
    — Anna Marie de la Fuente, Variety, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Ridley Scott’s representatives are denying the recent report that the director blamed his Gladiator II star Paul Mescal for the film’s underwhelming box office numbers.
    — Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of denying
Verb
  • In 2008, a fake story online about Jobs’ death sent Apple stock (AAPL) falling 9%.
    — Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 2 Sep. 2026
  • City officials said on Instagram that city crews have removed electrical lines mounted to nearby palm trees that are at risk of falling.
    — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of falling
Verb
  • Venezuela's industry has suffered from decades of underinvestment, deteriorating infrastructure and the loss of technical expertise.
    — Robert Rapier, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • The woods surrounding the cottage also needed work to remove trash, deteriorating hunting structures and invasive species, the letter said.
    — John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of deteriorating
Verb
  • The vaccines don’t block all flu infections but do help prevent the worst outcomes, decreasing older adults’ hospitalizations by 31%, according to the Vaccine Integrity Project, a public health group based at the University of Minnesota.
    — Lauran Neergaard, Los Angeles Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • If the network of user devices is substantial enough, every job can be routed to a nearby device, decreasing the latency.
    — Dina Genkina, IEEE Spectrum, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of decreasing
Verb
  • Sydney Sweeney exposed her plunging bralette in a tiny cropped T-shirt.
    — Meg Walters, InStyle, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The sleeveless dress, designed by Carolina Herrera creative director Wes Gordon as part of the fashion house's pre-fall 2026 collection, featured a plunging halter neckline, fitted ruched bodice and full midi-length skirt.
    — Sameen Chaudhry, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of plunging

Browse Nearby Words

declines (in)
declining
declining (in)
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Cite this Entry

“Declining.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/declining. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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