1
as in fell
to lead or extend downward
the pathway descends to the river bank
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deteriorated
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 plunged
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 dismounted
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 descended
Armed soldiers descended on the parliament by helicopter and attempted to storm the chamber where lawmakers were gathered.
—
Helen Regan, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
In a predawn raid in Jackson Heights, scores of militarized agents from the Department of Homeland Security descended with assault weapons on a residential building, removing a man and woman from their apartment.
—Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2026
The pair contacted a local archaeologist, and researchers from the University of Aberdeen quickly descended on the picturesque seaside locale to preserve the discoveries.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 Feb. 2026
In January, protesters descended on both the Depot and the Canopy hotels, believing Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were staying inside.
—Ashley Grams, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
The earrings descended directly through the Bourbon-Orléans line and come with a family tree that provides more context.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 18 Feb. 2026
Crowds descended on popular temples to burn incense and pray for happiness and success in the coming year.
—Ken Moritsugu, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026
Hundreds of teachers, students and residents descended upon the Dublin School Board meeting last week to demand the immediate firing of the district’s superintendent amid districtwide budget cuts.
—Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 17 Feb. 2026
Crews descended the hillside and found a person inside the vehicle, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
—Tarek Fattal, Daily News, 5 Feb. 2026
Helen Regan, CNN Money, 19 Feb. 2026
In a predawn raid in Jackson Heights, scores of militarized agents from the Department of Homeland Security descended with assault weapons on a residential building, removing a man and woman from their apartment.
—Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 19 Feb. 2026
The pair contacted a local archaeologist, and researchers from the University of Aberdeen quickly descended on the picturesque seaside locale to preserve the discoveries.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 Feb. 2026
In January, protesters descended on both the Depot and the Canopy hotels, believing Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents were staying inside.
—Ashley Grams, CBS News, 18 Feb. 2026
The earrings descended directly through the Bourbon-Orléans line and come with a family tree that provides more context.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 18 Feb. 2026
Crowds descended on popular temples to burn incense and pray for happiness and success in the coming year.
—Ken Moritsugu, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026
Hundreds of teachers, students and residents descended upon the Dublin School Board meeting last week to demand the immediate firing of the district’s superintendent amid districtwide budget cuts.
—Kyle Martin, Mercury News, 17 Feb. 2026
Crews descended the hillside and found a person inside the vehicle, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
—Tarek Fattal, Daily News, 5 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descended
Verb
-
Cortina Mayor Gianluca Lorenzi received death threats after centuries-old trees were felled to make way for a $131 million bobsledding track.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Afterward, Agnes and I were felled by the kind of hunger that overtakes only those who have exerted themselves in cold weather.—
Boris Fishman,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Unlike conventional implants that anchor in the jawbone, zygomatic implants extend into the cheekbone (zygoma), which remains dense even when jaw bone has deteriorated.—
Malana VanTyler,
jsonline.com,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Thousands of doctors being paid state wages that can hardly afford them a carton of eggs have emigrated from the country and hospitals have rapidly deteriorated.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Protests in Tehran erupted in late December 2025 after the rial plunged to a record low amid rising inflation and economic hardship, and carried into January 2026, prompting widespread market and public space closures.—
Eda Uysen,
Rolling Stone,
15 Feb. 2026
-
The value of the currency has plunged, and inflation has climbed to record levels.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Stopping, the man dismounted and shot that big bear square in the chest.—
Scott Haugen,
Outdoor Life,
4 Feb. 2026
-
This enables wide distribution across the front lines, especially in areas where soldiers are primarily dismounted.—
Vikram Mittal,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Software stocks have crumbled already this year, as investors worried the latest AI models will hurt a sector reliant on high fees for its business.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
17 Feb. 2026
-
After Malinin botched his final free in the singles competition, Cowan kept his distance as the skater crumbled into a grimace of abject disappointment.—
Colleen Barry,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Diners looking for an ultra-crispy texture sometimes request their fillets be dipped and fried again.—
Jessica Safavimehr,
Southern Living,
19 Feb. 2026
-
It is typically dipped in salt water and then eaten.—
Seth Jacobson,
wickedlocal.com,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Victor Rillet, a 21-year-old Frenchman, disembarked the steamship Washington in New York in October 1864, carrying the kind of optimism that fuels both great innovation and spectacular disappointment.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
-
That was where miners disembarked for the northern mines in the Sierra Nevada mountains.—
Jake Goodrick,
Sacbee.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Those engineering decisions worsened Katrina’s destruction.—
Melina Walling,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Kaley said her use of the platforms worsened her depression and suicidal thoughts.—
Bobby Allyn,
NPR,
18 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Descended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descended. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
