declining
On the downslope
Declining describes something growing smaller, weaker, or less vital over time.
A declining population is shrinking; declining health is worsening.
To decline is to refuse politely: She declined the invitation.
A decline is the process or state of diminishing: the decline of the Roman Empire, a decline in sales.
Becoming progressively worse
- failingFlaw in one's nature
- weakeningBecoming less strong
- worseningBecoming more severe
- fadingGradual loss of intensity
flagging · ailing · sinking · going downhill · faltering · degenerating · wasting · languishing
Growing older over time
- elderlyAdvanced in age
- senescenceGradual functional decline with age
- geriatricRelating to elderly care
- grayingLosing color with age
sunset years · twilight years · fading · deteriorating · weakening · frailty · infirmity · decrepitude
To make smaller
- lessenReduce in degree
- shrinkDecrease in size
- dwindleDecrease gradually over time
- waneDecrease gradually
ebb · taper · subside · drop · fall · slump · recede · contract
Downward slope or lineage
- downhillToward the bottom
- declivityDownward-sloping ground
- gradientRate of change across space
- inclineAngled rising surface
drop · dip · slant · pitch · falling away · downgrade · downward slope · steep
Dismiss as unsuitable
- turn downReject or reduce
- say noVerbally reject something
- pass onTransmit to another
- rebuffAbrupt, curt rejection
spurn · demur · regrets · opt out · abstain · beg off · bow out · wave off
Vary pitch or form
- conjugateModify verbs grammatically
- declensionNoun form variation
- nominativeCase marking sentence subjects
- genitiveCase expressing ownership
dative · accusative · ablative · paradigm · morphology · inflection · Latin · grammatical
deteriorating
Becoming progressively worse
fading · flagging · ailing · sinking · going downhill · faltering · degenerating · wasting · languishing · debilitating
aging
Growing older over time
- elderlyAdvanced in age
- senescenceGradual functional decline with age
- geriatricRelating to elderly care
graying · sunset years · twilight years · fading · deteriorating · weakening · frailty · infirmity · decrepitude · past prime
diminish
To make smaller
wane · ebb · taper · subside · drop · fall · slump · recede · contract · fade
descent
Downward slope or lineage
incline · drop · dip · slant · pitch · falling away · downgrade · downward slope · steep · grade
reject
Dismiss as unsuitable
rebuff · spurn · demur · regrets · opt out · abstain · beg off · bow out · wave off · pass
inflect
Vary pitch or form
- conjugateModify verbs grammatically
- declensionNoun form variation
- nominativeCase marking sentence subjects
genitive · dative · accusative · ablative · paradigm · morphology · inflection · Latin · grammatical
- decliningwaning, fading, diminishing, decreasing, ebbing
- gradual declinefading, waning, dwindling, diminishing, ebbing
- setbacksfailing, back to square one, stuck, losing, stumbles
- wildlife statusendangered, extinct, vulnerable, threatened, rare species
- nonparticipationnonparticipation, noninvolvement, noninterference, nonintervention, abstention
- organ functionfunctional, impaired, normal, healthy, failing
decliningrising
Act of ascending
increasing · growing · climbing · ascending · improving
decliningflourishing
Prospering vigorously
thriving · booming · prosperous · prospering · blooming
decliningaccepting
Willing to receive
agreeing · consenting · assenting · acquiescing · embracing
- declining healthWorsening physical condition
- declining yearsFinal stage of life