Decline
Decline verb - To become worse or of less value.
Usage example: his reputation as a writer began to decline not long after his death
Fail is a synonym for decline in activity topic. In some cases you can use "Fail" instead a verb "Decline", when it comes to topics like increase, lessen, deteriorate, fall. popular alternative
Fail
Fail verb - To be unsuccessful.
Usage example: despite all the publicity, the movie failed miserably at the box office
Decline is a synonym for fail in reduction topic. You can use "Decline" instead a verb "Fail", if it concerns topics such as increase, deteriorate, be unsuccessful. popular alternative
Mutual synonyms
Common collocations
Both words in one sentence
- Often, the main opposition will decline to run against the candidate, or even support it, leaving minor parties to try (and fail) to win.
Source: Landslide Election -
Sometimes, however, they fail to listen, in which case their tradition, lack of ability or desire to progress causes them to go into a period of decline; having once ruled a mighty empire, they would only be found on a handful of worlds and it is increasingly rare to even meet one.
Source: Higher-Tech Species
Cite this Source
Fail and Decline. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/decline/fail
Decline & Fail. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/decline/fail>.
Fail or Decline. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/decline/fail.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "decline" and "fail" have occurred on timeline