| Main Entry: | backward |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | toward the rear |
Synonyms: |
astern, behind, inverted, rearward, regressive, retrograde |
Antonyms: |
ahead, forward, to the front |
| Main Entry: | decline |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | lessen, become less |
Synonyms: |
abate, backslide, cheapen, decay, decrease, degenerate, depreciate, deteriorate, diminish, disimprove, disintegrate, droop, drop, dwindle, ebb, fade, fail, fall, fall off, flag, go downhill, go to pot, go to the dogs, hit the skids, languish, lapse, lose value, lower, pine, recede, relapse, retrograde, return, revert, rot, sag, settle, shrink, sink, slide, subside, wane, weaken, worsen |
| Notes: | one declines (or accepts) something that is offered; one refuses (or agrees) to accept something offered |
Antonyms: |
improve, increase, rise |
| Main Entry: | degenerate |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | corrupt, deteriorated |
Synonyms: |
base, debased, debauched, decadent, decayed, degenerated, degraded, demeaned, depraved, dissolute, effete, failing, fallen, flatitious, immoral, infamous, low, mean, miscreant, nefarious, overripe, perverted, retrograde, retrogressive, rotten, sinking, unhealthy, vicious, villainous, vitiated, wicked, worsen |
Antonyms: |
moral, upright, virtuous |
| Main Entry: | deteriorate |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | decay, degenerate |
Synonyms: |
adulterate, alloy, be worse for wear, become worse, break, corrode, corrupt, crumble, debase, debilitate, decline, decompose, degrade, deprave, depreciate, descend, disimprove, disintegrate, ebb, fade, fail, fall apart, flag, go downhill, go to pieces, go to pot, go to the dogs, hit the skids, impair, injure, languish, lapse, lessen, lose it, lose quality, lower, mar, pervert, regress, retrograde, retrogress, rot, sink, skid, slide, spoil, undermine, vitiate, weaken, wear away, worsen |
Antonyms: |
build, construct, develop, get better, improve |
| Main Entry: | die |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | wither, dwindle |
Synonyms: |
abate, bate, break down, crumble, decay, decline, degenerate, deteriorate, dilapidate, diminish, disappear, droop, ease off, ebb, end, expire, fade, fade away, fade out, fail, fall, fizzle out, go bad, go downhill, halt, lapse, let up, lose power, melt away, moderate, molder, pass, peter out, rankle, recede, retrograde, rot, run down, run low, run out, sink, slacken, stop, subside, vanish, wane, weaken, wear away, wilt |
Antonyms: |
develop, flourish, grow, improve |
| Main Entry: | fall back |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | retreat |
Synonyms: |
back, draw back, give back, recede, recoil, retire, retrocede, retrograde, surrender, withdraw, yield |
Antonyms: |
forge, forward, progress |
| Main Entry: | lapse |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | become void; fall back into previous pattern |
Synonyms: |
apostatize, backslide, become obsolete, cease, decline, degenerate, descend, deteriorate, die, elapse, end, expire, go by, pass, recede, recidivate, relapse, retrograde, return, revert, run out, slide, slip, subside, terminate, weaken |
Antonyms: |
continue, go on, restart |
| Main Entry: | opposite |
| Part of Speech: | adjective |
| Definition: | unlike, conflicting; completely different |
Synonyms: |
adverse, antagonistic, antipodal, antipodean, antithetical, contradictory, contrapositive, contrary, contrasted, corresponding, counter, crosswise, diametric, diametrically opposed, different, differing, dissimilar, diverse, facing, flip-side, fronting, hostile, inconsistent, independent, inimical, inverse, irreconcilable, obverse, opposed, ornery*, paradoxical, polar, repugnant, retrograde, reverse, reversed, separate, unalike, unconnected, unrelated, unsimilar, violative, vis-รก-vis |
Antonyms: |
compatible, like, similar |
| Main Entry: | recede |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | withdraw; diminish |
Synonyms: |
abate, back, close, decline, decrease, depart, die off, diminish, drain away, draw back, drop, dwindle, ebb, fade, fall back, flow back, go away, go back, lessen, reduce, regress, retire, retract, retreat, retrocede, retrograde, retrogress, return, shrink, sink, subside, taper, wane |
Antonyms: |
advance, forge, forward, increase |
| Main Entry: | retract |
| Part of Speech: | verb |
| Definition: | take back; renege on |
Synonyms: |
abjure, back, back down, back off, back out of, call off, cancel, change one's mind, countermand, deny, disavow, disclaim, disown, draw in, eat one's words, eliminate, exclude, fall back, forget it, forswear, go back on, have change of heart, nig, pull back, pull in, recall, recant, recede, reel in, renege, renounce, repeal, repudiate, rescind, retreat, retrocede, retrograde, reverse, revoke, rule out, sheathe, suspend, take back, take in, unsay, welsh, withdraw |
Antonyms: |
corroborate, emphasize, reaffirm, repeat |