1
as in dips
the act or process of going to a lower level or altitude
the airplane began its gradual descent to the landing field
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deteriorations
a change to a lower state or level
the nation's rapid descent into anarchy after the revolution
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3
as in demises
a loss of status
for throwing the game, the ballplayer underwent a huge descent in the eyes of the fans
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4
as in incursions
a sudden attack on and entrance into hostile territory
the lightning descent of the invading army on that unsuspecting border town
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5
as in attacks
the act or action of setting upon with force or violence
the descent of the voracious locusts on the wheat fields
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6
as in ancestries
the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended
a person of Finnish descent
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7
as in downhills
a downward slope
on bicycle tours the ascents always seem to outnumber the descents
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of descents
From rugged descents through pine forests to flowy singletrack that rolls through meadows, there’s a trail for every ability.
—
Jen Murphy, Outside, 7 Jan. 2026
The mountain biking trails at Rhebokskloof Estatein Paarl are a mix of steep climbs and thrilling descents.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2025
Lusti, as her superhuman friends call her, has racked up more first descents on mountains of consequence than arguably any other other woman in the last 10 years.
—Outside Online, 10 Dec. 2025
Beyond top-notch skiing, Aspen features indoor and outdoor ice skating rinks and a festive four-day Wintersköl event complete with torchlight descents on Aspen Mountain, live music, bonfires, fireworks, and snow sculptures.
—Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 9 Dec. 2025
These in-bounds, hike-to zones offer a backcountry feel with truly hair-raising descents.
—Charles Curkin, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2025
People have tried ski descents from Everest in the past, but none of them have completed the run without bottled oxygen.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 25 Sep. 2025
This three-day program moves on to teaching more advanced techniques, like left-foot braking, handling ascents and descents, and weight transfer.
—Robb Report Studio, Robb Report, 9 Sep. 2025
Human sequences depicted various runs and also ascents, descents, lifts, throws, wrestling, dances, a child crawling, and a woman pouring a bucket of water over another woman.
—IEEE Spectrum, 23 May 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descents
Noun
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Morelia Paletas recently opened there, as well, bringing another location in Charlotte to customize its fruity Mexican paletas with dips and toppings.—
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Miles McBride’s field goal attempts are also up, while both Mikal Bridges and OG Anunoby have seen shot dips, too.—
Noun
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No reason was provided for the shops’ demises.—
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The mission, the fourth of 2025, would also be Starship's first flight since May 27 amid a year plagued by explosive demises for the vehicle.—
Noun
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But what has transpired in practice is that cops are sorely missed during ICE incursions.—
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Drone incursions, sabotage and the vulnerability of nuclear reactors to attack are turning Europe into a dangerous flashpoint.—
Noun
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The agency was established in 2003 after the 9/11 attacks.—
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Ukraine's security service said that five rescue workers suffered injuries while responding to the site of ongoing attacks.—
Noun
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But many Chicanos trace their lineage to indigenous peoples who survived Spanish colonization, often carrying mixed indigenous, Spanish, and other ancestries, a testament to survival and cultural fusion.—
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This lack of representation is problematic for people of different ancestries because genetic risk factors differ across populations.—
Noun
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It's claimed to still handle short downhills well and provide a good glide on flat surfaces.—
Noun
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Now that soup season is upon us again, the brand is offering customers not one, not two, but three surprise product drops of this viral soup lover’s treat.—
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Mix a couple of drops of gentle liquid dish soap and hot water in a bowl.—
Noun
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For Parisian Jews in 1941 and 1942, these thefts were compounded by a cascade of other degradations, including the loss of distinguished positions at the Sorbonne, in banking, science, and medicine, with more devastation to come.—
Cite this Entry
“Descents.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descents. Accessed 20 Jan. 2026.
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