as·cen·dant
ə-ˈsen-dənt 
variants
or less commonly ascendent
1
: the point of the ecliptic or degree of the zodiac that rises above the eastern horizon at any moment
2
: a state or position of dominant power or importance
3
: a lineal or collateral relative in the ascending line
variants
or less commonly ascendent
ascendantly
adverb
Examples of ascendant in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Nadja Sayej, Forbes.com, 5 Sep. 2025
That headliner is followed by two scorching ascendants: The Atlanta Dream, surging all the way up to No. 2 on the W’s table, visit the Las Vegas Aces, who have stacked seven consecutive wins.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Nikki Ekstein, Boston Herald, 21 Sep. 2025
This isn’t a sign of ascendant fascism so much as the nadir of late-stage capitalism, which depends on forever wars to juice corporate profits at a time of falling rates of return on investment.
—Seth Harp, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ascendant
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Noun
The sun sign is said to represent our basic personality, the moon explains our inner, emotional nature and our ascendant, or rising sign, captures our outer appearance and first impression to the world.
—Nadja Sayej, Forbes.com, 5 Sep. 2025
That headliner is followed by two scorching ascendants: The Atlanta Dream, surging all the way up to No. 2 on the W’s table, visit the Las Vegas Aces, who have stacked seven consecutive wins.
—Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Some 44 new hotels — or 6,000 new rooms — are in the pipeline across this seven-island Spanish archipelago of the western coast of Africa, all scheduled to pop by 2028, so there’s clear reason to believe the trendline is ascendant.
—Nikki Ekstein, Boston Herald, 21 Sep. 2025
This isn’t a sign of ascendant fascism so much as the nadir of late-stage capitalism, which depends on forever wars to juice corporate profits at a time of falling rates of return on investment.
—Seth Harp, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for ascendant
Cite this Entry
“Ascendant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ascendant. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
ascendant
1 of 2 noun
as·cen·dant
ə-ˈsen-dənt
: a state or position of commanding power
ascendant
2 of 2 adjective1
: moving up : rising
2
a
: in a superior position
b
: inclined to control
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