I. verb
1.
Synonyms: set 12, dip, go down, sink
Antonyms: ascend
2.
Synonyms: fail 1, deteriorate, ||dwine, fade, flag, languish, weaken
Related Word: backslide, lapse, relapse; slide; return, revert; recede, retrograde; abate, ebb, subside, wane
Idioms: go downhill, take a turn for the worse
Contrasted words: advance, progress; develop, mature; gain, recover
3.
Synonyms: deteriorate 1, degenerate, descend, disimprove, disintegrate, retrograde, rot, sink, worsen
4.
to turn away by not accepting, receiving, or considering
he declined the invitation
Synonyms: disapprove, dismiss, refuse, reject, reprobate, repudiate, spurn, turn down
Related Word: balk, boggle, demur, jib, scruple, shy, stick, stickle; abstain, forbear, refrain; deny, gainsay; abjure, renounce; bypass
Idioms: send regrets
Contrasted words: receive, take; accede, acquiesce, assent, consent; choose, select; adopt, embrace, espouse
Antonyms: accept
II. noun
1.
Synonyms: failure 4, declination, deterioration, ebbing, waning
Related Word: devitalization, weakening
Contrasted words: advancement, progress; recovery; development, maturation
2.
Synonyms: deterioration 1, decadence, declension, declination, degeneracy, degeneration, dégringolade, devolution, downfall, downgrade
Related Word: comedown, descent, drop, fall, falling off, slump; ebb, wane; backsliding, lapse, relapse
Contrasted words: development, evolution
3.
a downward movement (as in price or value)
stocks suffered a decline in the market
Synonyms: dip, downslide, downswing, downtrend, downturn, drop, falloff, sag, slide, slip, slump
Related Word: lapse, loss, lowering; depression; decrease, drop-off, sell-off
Contrasted words: upswing, uptrend, upturn
4.
Synonyms: descent 4, declivity, dip, drop, fall