1
as in drop
the act or process of going to a lower level or altitude
the airplane began its gradual descent to the landing field
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2
as in deterioration
a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body
the family patriarch's heartbreaking descent into infirmity and senility
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3
as in degradation
a change to a lower state or level
the nation's rapid descent into anarchy after the revolution
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4
as in demise
a loss of status
for throwing the game, the ballplayer underwent a huge descent in the eyes of the fans
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5
as in invasion
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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6
as in attack
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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7
as in ancestry
the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended
a person of Finnish descent
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8
as in downhill
a downward slope
on bicycle tours the ascents always seem to outnumber the descents
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of descent
Reeves is of Native American descent, the sheriff’s office said.
—
Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 24 Aug. 2025
Dec was previously at NASA, and his specialty there was entry descent—bringing space probes down to the surface of Mars.
—Adam Rogers, Scientific American, 21 Aug. 2025
Being the first Albanian descent player to play this game means a lot to me.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Notably, adventurers and professional skiers have attempted ski descents from some of the most iconic peaks in the world, including:
Laila Peak (6,096 m): Famous for its perfect, steep, needle-like shape — successfully skied by a few elite ski-mountaineers.
—Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for descent
Mitchell Willetts, Kansas City Star, 24 Aug. 2025
Dec was previously at NASA, and his specialty there was entry descent—bringing space probes down to the surface of Mars.
—Adam Rogers, Scientific American, 21 Aug. 2025
Being the first Albanian descent player to play this game means a lot to me.
—Dalton Ross, EW.com, 20 Aug. 2025
Notably, adventurers and professional skiers have attempted ski descents from some of the most iconic peaks in the world, including:
Laila Peak (6,096 m): Famous for its perfect, steep, needle-like shape — successfully skied by a few elite ski-mountaineers.
—Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for descent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descent
Noun
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This latter interpretation recalls Persephone’s yearly return from the underworld or another myth in which a pomegranate sprouts from drops of Dionysus’s blood after his death, heralding his resurrection.—
Demir Alp,
JSTOR Daily,
29 Aug. 2025
-
Ruth’s clothing, education, occupations, and places of residence are determined by the elders, and any of these conditions can change at the drop of a hat.—
Hannah Gold,
New Yorker,
29 Aug. 2025
Noun
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It can also be used to describe the content itself as something likely to lead to intellectual deterioration.—
Mia Thurow,
jsonline.com,
20 Aug. 2025
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In 2025, activist groups from Mallorca wrote an open letter urging travelers not to visit the island during the peak summer season—an attempt to alleviate the worsening cost-of-living crisis, the lack of housing, and environmental deterioration.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
15 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Once opened, maple syrup should be stored in the refrigerator to prevent mold growth and flavor degradation.—
Heather Riske,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Aug. 2025
-
Suppression repair is a critical part of firefighting efforts, to reduce erosion and soil degradation in the areas used in the firefighting efforts.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
13 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Over 75 years of social change, political earthquakes, media shifts, military conflicts and, maybe most important, the demise of the mass celebrity, game show hosts have managed to stay above the fray.—
Steven Zeitchik,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Aug. 2025
-
Nissan Altima: Another sedan bites the dust as the Nissan Altima gets its pink slip for 2026, following the larger Maxima’s demise for 2025.—
Jim Gorzelany,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The Japanese tech company has operated in Russia since 2006, but after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine began scaling back operations, halting console shipments and closing online and brick-and-mortar stores.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
14 Aug. 2025
-
Zelensky has also warned that territory conceded to Russia would simply be used as a springboard for further invasions, as happened with Crimea, illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014, and used as a launchpad for the full-scale war in 2022.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Frustrated with the lack of movement on his nominees, the president went on the attack against Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and vowed to take legal action against the longtime Senate custom.—
Al Weaver,
The Hill,
28 Aug. 2025
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The latest barrage continued the nightly tempo of Russian strikes, though the scale of the attacks through August have so far been smaller than in July and June.—
Ellie Kaufman,
ABC News,
28 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
American Bullies share common ancestry with pit bulls but are generally more laid back in temperament.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
13 Aug. 2025
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This most recent edition provides players with several classes and ancestries built to allow for maximum control of character customization.—
Rob Wieland,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Given Superman’s solid hold at the box office and The Fantastic Four’s downhill slide, DC Studios’ Man of Steel film is poised to handily defeat the latest MCU chapter by the time each film wraps its theatrical run.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
10 Aug. 2025
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While his main promise is as a downhill guard who can score, Fears has to be more threatening as a passer.—
John Hollinger,
New York Times,
25 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Descent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descent. Accessed 2 Sep. 2025.
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