declension

noun

di-ˈklen(t)-shən How to pronounce declension (audio)
Definition of declensionnext
1
as in deterioration
a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body a noticeable declension of the fitness of the baseball players over the winter

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in declination
a change to a lower state or level a declension in her acting career from leading roles to cameos eventually

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in downhill
a downward slope from this region to the seacoast there's a gentle declension of the landscape

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 declension Haidt follows the same tired declension narrative that his rhetorical forebearers did. — Vicki Phillips, Forbes, 24 Jan. 2023 One time, when Joyce was memorizing Latin declension, Bill Bradley of the Knicks took notice. — Katherine Fitzgerald, The Arizona Republic, 18 July 2021 The same time span felt faster, like an explosion rather than like a declension. — Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 7 June 2021 Gender plays an integral role in many languages, from nouns assigned to a specific gender to adjectives changing their declensions based on the noun being described. — Madhvi Ramani, Smithsonian, 28 Feb. 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for declension
  1. deterioration
  2. declination
  3. downhill
  4. weakening
  5. decline
  6. dip
  7. decay
  8. degradation
Noun
  • But its deterioration is a profound a priori, one that can only be partially forestalled.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The moves come as economic indicators showed months of deterioration, following a disappointing second quarter.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of deterioration
Noun
  • To me, the two nude figures in languid declination seemed, saliently, to be melting in the heat of a summer day, but their triton-wielding and breast-cupping poses must certainly have also invited debate centuries before.
    — Scott Laird, Travel + Leisure, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The declinations came as the DOJ reassigned and cut prosecutors working on environmental cases.
    — Ken B. Morales, ProPublica, 31 Mar. 2026
Definition of declination
Noun
  • Allen is a solid downhill, change-of-pace runner who can be used in short-yardage situations.
    — Antwan Staley, New York Daily News, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The Picklejus aims for the complete package in mountain running, tackling not just distances greater than 100 miles but also the dramatic uphills and downhills that may come along the way.
    — Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of downhill
Noun
  • This weakening of the trade winds then allows the warm water to flow towards the west coast of South America instead.
    — Matthew Villafane, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026
  • By Wednesday next week, the moisture plume from the weakening storm will arrive in Arizona and New Mexico with the potential for flash floods and lingering tropical showers throughout the desert.
    — Sean Macaday, Sacbee.com, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of weakening
Noun
  • Huawei's push into the smartphone market comes as sales in China have slumped this year, with a double-digit decline year-on-year in August and September, according to Counterpoint Research.
    — Matthew Tan,Evelyn Cheng, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • The co-CEOs have modeled a cash ramp-up in coming years but meanwhile there’s not a big cushion if churn rises, cable-network declines accelerate, the box office softens again or there’s macroeconomic or geopolitical disruption.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of decline
Noun
  • Past the lobby lie the consortium’s constellation of swimming pools (four total, including one Nobu-exclusive, adults-only dip) and, across the bustling boardwalk, a stretch of beach with loungers reserved just for guests.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Use it for a classic Caesar salad, of course, or spoon it over roasted vegetables, spread it onto sandwiches, or serve it as a dip.
    — Rick Martinez, Bon Appetit Magazine, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of dip
Noun
  • Radioisotope power systems convert heat from radioactive decay into electricity.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Conversely, modern concrete is subject to irreversible decay, a form of disintegration owing to its formation as a composite of cement and aggregate materials, such as gravel and sand.
    — Jeffrey Weiss, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of decay
Noun
  • Since optical switches aren’t subject to the same amount of degradation as traditional mechanical switches, the representative argued, users won’t need to swap them over time.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 5 Oct. 2026
  • There are also practical questions around battery degradation, consumer compensation, privacy, and who gets to control an asset in someone’s home.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of degradation

Browse Nearby Words

déclassé
declension
declensions
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Cite this Entry

“Declension.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/declension. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on declension

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about declension

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