1
as in stumbles
to go down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily
better sand that walkway before somebody falls on the ice
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2
as in succumbs
to yield to the control or power of enemy forces
the city fell after weeks of merciless bombardment
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3
as in plunges
to go to a lower level especially abruptly
word soon got out that the movie was no good, and box-office receipts fell like a rock
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4
as in decreases
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually
manufacturing in the area is falling, and closing signs are going up all over
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5
as in descends
to lead or extend downward
the lake bottom falls sharply just a few feet from the shoreline, so be careful
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6
as in loses
to undergo defeat
not surprisingly, the novice player fell to a much stronger opponent
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7
as in wanders
to commit an offense
even saints can fall
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8
as in dies
to stop living
if their brave leader falls, the men will lose their courage
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of falls
Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 9 Nov. 2025
Sabrina Carpenter’s chart-topping Man’s Best Friend slips 5-6 on the latest Billboard 200 with 38,000 equivalent album units earned (down 8%), while Olivia Dean’s The Art of Loving falls 6-7 (37,000, down 3%).
—Keith Caulfield, Billboard, 9 Nov. 2025
If Jones did not breach any duty in sharing this information, the analogy to the insider trading prosecution falls flat.
—Samidh Guha, ABC News, 9 Nov. 2025
Much of this lovely, cerebral film unfolds in a cozy Manhattan high-rise, a Christmas tree twinkling in the background as snow falls outside.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Nov. 2025
Their identity and job are fused, so self-worth rises and falls with performance and praise.
—Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Nov. 2025
Grainier falls for Gladys hard, and their subsequent relationship passes by in a delirium of broad strokes, unfolding moment by moment — throughout the film, time seems to exist outside the frame, which is usually tight and very intimately focused.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 8 Nov. 2025
Take Giving Tuesday – which falls on the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving in the United States.
—Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
And King Priam, at great personal risk, shows up with a ransom and falls on his knees and clasps Achilles’ hand.
—Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2026
Wipe Up Spills Promptly This seems like a no-brainer, but liquids on a floor's surface is one of the leading causes of falls.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 9 Jan. 2026
Several falls are accessible right off the highway, including Gooseberry Falls (Mile Marker 39), Cross River Falls (MM 79), Temperance River Falls (MM 80), and Grand Portage Falls (MM 150).
—Julia Sayers Gokhale, Midwest Living, 7 Jan. 2026
Even though younger primates break bones from falls more often, adults are heavier and have less flexible bones, so injuries from falls are usually more deadly.
—Lauren Sarringhaus, The Conversation, 7 Jan. 2026
This can include anything from minor falls and bumps to being dropped from a significant distance without damaging its contents.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 6 Jan. 2026
North was the first to discover her mother’s first four falls — through a remote video feed — and alerted staff that her mother needed help.
—Shelly Bradbury, Denver Post, 30 Dec. 2025
Authorities are urging the public to avoid open areas and to be alert to structures, trees, and power lines due to the risk of falls and accidents.
—CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025
Now, as falls turns to winter, some states are warning that funding for low-income heating aid is being delayed because of the federal government shutdown.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
So Nude pair falls neatly in line — proof that even in full-metal glamour, minimalism with an edge is having a very good year.
—Noun
Utah finished last after three falls on the beam, producing its lowest score since February 2000.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for falls
Verb
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Ennin gets up and stumbles down the block before collapsing next to a building.—
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There’s a fine line between righteousness and self-satisfaction, and the second season, which premieres on HBO Max on January 8, frequently stumbles into the latter territory.—
Verb
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Her sexuality is a source of conflict for her family, and the pressure leads to the painful breakup with her girlfriend, Rosie (Jess Gabor), who succumbs to family expectations.—
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Live, the band’s cataclysmic volume precludes close observation, and melodic detail succumbs to feedback like dust caught in an exploding star’s stratosphere.—
Verb
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The teaser plunges viewers into the world of two content creators from contrasting backgrounds who unite for a collaboration fueled by curiosity, social media clout and mutual attraction.—
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Their love scene in the rain, while obviously less visually spectacular than in the film, plunges headlong into romantic cliches that manage to get the job done despite their obviousness.—
Verb
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This risk decreases as the storm moves away.—
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Prescribed medication is used to manage discomfort, which usually decreases noticeably after the first week.—
Verb
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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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Regardless, this film also boasts a oner for the ages, as a raincoat mafia descends upon a rave and a pair of bloodthirsty lovers.—
Verb
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The deeper the water, the sooner a vehicle loses traction on the road.—
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However, each conversion step consumes energy, introduces delay, and loses some of the information carried by the original signal.—
Verb
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Where is that strange, clueless child who wanders from cause to cause, Greta Thunberg?—
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Matt, the dad, wanders off to the kitchen.—
Verb
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And if the giver dies during the five-year period, some of the gift will be added back into their estate.—
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First, Monty Miller (a suave, anguished Jon Hamm), Tommy’s lifelong friend and billionaire founder of M-Tex, dies suddenly, but not before naming the fixer as the new company president.—
Cite this Entry
“Falls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/falls. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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