1
as in to fall
to lead or extend downward
the pathway descends to the river bank
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to deteriorate
to become worse or of less value
the order of the classroom descended into chaos when the teacher left the room
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to plunge
to go to a lower level especially abruptly
leaves slowly descended from the branches in the gentle autumn wind wait for the elevator to descend
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of descend
Carol is casually chatting with her manager and romantic partner, Helen (Miriam Shor), when the pathogen descends on everyone, creating a horrific scene of silent, seizing bodies.
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Erin Qualey, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2025
Regardless, this film also boasts a oner for the ages, as a raincoat mafia descends upon a rave and a pair of bloodthirsty lovers.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025
But as tens of thousands of people descend on Belém for COP30 — the world’s biggest annual climate summit — a dearth of accommodation has led to a scramble for beds.
—Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
Literary types can descend into the 8,000-year-old lava cave in Iceland’s Snæfellsjökull glacier that inspired Jules Verne’s novel Journey to the Center of the Earth, while history buffs will marvel at the interactive recreation of the construction of the Titanic at the Belfast shipyard.
—Fran Golden, AFAR Media, 6 Nov. 2025
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Recent Examples of Synonyms for descend
Verb
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Two things happened on that blustery back-to-school morning that fell exactly a month after my eleventh birthday.—
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Midway through the third quarter, true freshman linebacker Mason Posa, buried on the depth chart just weeks ago, ripped the ball loose at Washington’s 7-yard line and fell on it himself.—
Verb
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The price of gold, long understood to be the investor’s refuge against a deteriorating dollar, is sounding an alarm.—
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When those conditions are absent, performance deteriorates quickly.—
Verb
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These two conflicts heat up very quickly, with Dale plunging his elbow into the soup and then getting in Ron’s face, telling him to kiss it.—
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The buttery soft, stretchy nylon is accented with a plunging V-neckline and pretty lace trim.—
Verb
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The build centers around three pairs of floor rails extending from the tailgate up to the front row and a series of individual seats that easily mount to and dismount from those rails.—
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The woman told investigators Herzing had made similar threats in July, which resulted in the victim suffering minor scrapes after dismounting at a stoplight.—
Verb
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In Eaton Canyon, gently sloping trails lead to a waterfall tucked away in the forest.—
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The property abuts a sloping canyon.—
Verb
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Along with everything else, Johnson sought to erase the Murphy’s Law mentality of a team that always seemed to find ways to crumble in big moments.—
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McKnight was temporarily living in a crumbling budget hotel nearby.—
Verb
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Wipe the seal with a soft cloth dipped in some warm baking soda water and dry completely before closing the door.—
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Best of all, with prices dipping as low as $8, now’s the moment to upgrade your winter travel wardrobe without breaking the bank.—
Verb
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Upon arrival at Star Flat, travelers disembark the train wearing red light necklaces (to ensure no one gets lost), which provide light without compromising night vision.—
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Passengers were on The Hop when the wires were hit and were able to safely disembark.—
Cite this Entry
“Descend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descend. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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