1. a person who believes that a country, institution, or civilization is in decline or experiencing a period of decreasing power, influence, or quality
Usage: often used in political or historical discourse; can be descriptive or pejorative depending on context

Examples

• The declinist warned that the empire's military strength was weakening.
• Some declinists argue that Western influence in global affairs is diminishing.
• Critics dismissed the declinist narrative as overly pessimistic.
• The declinist perspective dominated political debates during the economic recession.
• Not all historians agree with the declinist interpretation of recent events.
• The declinist school of thought emphasizes structural problems in the system.