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
as in to dismount
to come down from something (as a vehicle)
the driver descended from the truck's cab, dreading to see what he had hit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of descend
In descending levels of severity, these are: warning, advisory, watch, and information statement, according to the NWS.
—
Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 30 July 2025
At the University of Texas, students remember April 24, 2024, as a day of upheaval when state and local police, clad in riot gear, descended on the campus as students and other protesters rallied to demand the university to divest from weapons manufacturers aiding Israel in its war with Hamas.
—Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
Carson, indeed, was so worried about the building that at 10 a.m. Sunday morning, just hours before the front descended in a torrent of bricks, Carson entered the store at 3726 Broadway Blvd.
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 28 July 2025
Every year crowds descend on a small Kentucky town, braving the mid-summer heat to cheer on their favorite — and heckle their least favorite — politicians at the St. Jerome Fancy Farm Picnic.
—Hannah Pinski, Louisville Courier Journal, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for descend
Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 30 July 2025
At the University of Texas, students remember April 24, 2024, as a day of upheaval when state and local police, clad in riot gear, descended on the campus as students and other protesters rallied to demand the university to divest from weapons manufacturers aiding Israel in its war with Hamas.
—Lily Kepner, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025
Carson, indeed, was so worried about the building that at 10 a.m. Sunday morning, just hours before the front descended in a torrent of bricks, Carson entered the store at 3726 Broadway Blvd.
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 28 July 2025
Every year crowds descend on a small Kentucky town, braving the mid-summer heat to cheer on their favorite — and heckle their least favorite — politicians at the St. Jerome Fancy Farm Picnic.
—Hannah Pinski, Louisville Courier Journal, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for descend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descend
Verb
-
But, if wages don’t rise to match those jumps, consumer spending could fall and slow the economy.—
Raul Elizalde,
Forbes.com,
15 Aug. 2025
-
Yet the pre-tariff prices of imports haven’t fallen much since the levies were put in place.—
Christopher Rugaber,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
But this week, the situation in Donetsk has rapidly deteriorated, with Russian forces making important advances to the north east of Dobropilia, altering control of the area Witkoff has been discussing with the Kremlin.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
14 Aug. 2025
-
But after the Sriracha-maker callously withheld payments from Underwood, the relationship deteriorated and litigation followed.—
Kate Vitasek,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Filmed on 16mm Kodak Ektachrome across a non-stop 45 day shoot, Petersen expands her exploration of mysticism and disappearance in southernmost Argentina – plunging head-first into a father-daughter relationship upended in the sleepy mountains of Tierra del Fuego.—
Jason Liwag,
Variety,
14 Aug. 2025
-
The eviction notice has plunged his future into uncertainty.—
Max Klaver,
Miami Herald,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
But editorial indulgence has resulted in such a sludge of footnotes and block quotes that the eye must often dismount and continue on foot.—
Book Marks
August 7,
Literary Hub,
7 Aug. 2025
-
For instance, people on bicycles or skateboards may be asked to dismount and walk down the ramp into Buccaneer Park.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
In the late 18th century, French artist Elizabeth Louise Vigée Le Brun painted a portrait of Marie Antoinette, the last queen of France, wearing a sloping straw hat and chemise dress — a typical undergarment for women at the time.—
Leah Dolan,
CNN Money,
29 July 2025
-
The latter gives a good perspective on just how big and sloping the green can be, and a great view of incoming balls flying through the air toward the pin.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
22 July 2025
Verb
-
Ignoring that second part, Irakli contacts Lisa’s editor and discovers that her as-yet-unfinished assignment is a photo essay on the crumbling football pitches of rural Georgia.—
Jessica Kiang,
Variety,
17 Aug. 2025
-
Also getting a major glow-up in the remaining four episodes is a large, crumbling Victorian in the northern part of Detroit's Corktown neighborhood.—
Julie Hinds,
Freep.com,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
June 23-16: Trump’s approval rating dipped one point, to 41%, in a Reuters/Ipsos survey of 1,139 U.S. adults taken June 21-23 from its June 11-16 survey, with 57% disapproving (the latest poll has a 3-point margin of error).—
Sara Dorn,
Forbes.com,
8 Aug. 2025
-
Adults and kids alike dipped in the Atlantic and a tiki hut boat served shoreside lobster rolls and hot dogs.—
Moira McCarthy,
Boston Herald,
7 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Cruise ships carrying more than 500 guests are also not permitted to disembark guests in Antarctica and operate cruise-only sailings there, according to IAATO.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
31 July 2025
-
Security didn’t immediately lock down the ship, and passengers weren’t fully searched before disembarking in Curaçao.—
Sarah Jones,
People.com,
30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Descend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descend. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share