as in bowing
bending downward or forward
with descending heads the mourners made their way to the burial site
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in falling
to lead or extend downward
the pathway descends to the river bank
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deteriorating
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 plunging
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in dismounting
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
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Recent Examples of descending
Holden Seidlitz, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 7 May 2026
The next morning, in rainy Washington, the protester came down from the bridge, descending via an internal ladder in the arch.
—Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 7 May 2026
For months, a dark cloud had been coming and going, descending for longer each time.
—Literary Hub, 5 May 2026
The Bernina Express winds through striking Alpine scenery before descending into warm, sunlit Mediterranean landscapes, revealing a stunning panorama that feels almost cinematic.
—Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 4 May 2026
Hundreds of the biggest names in entertainment and fashion are descending upon the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday for the annual Met Gala.
—Tom Tapp, Deadline, 4 May 2026
Only weeks remain before hundreds of thousands of soccer fans are expected to start descending on Kansas City for the first game, on June 16, of the month-long 2026 FIFA World Cup competition.
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 1 May 2026
This season has been an adventure, with thousands descending on Seville and Porto in particular, transforming those cities into a sea of red for a few glorious days.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Footage shows the lovebird riding high inside a clear cabin attached to a drone, as the contraption glides through the air before gently descending toward the ground.
—Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Then, the repetitive descending melody is interrupted and restarts; in this musical rupture the trance is broken.
—Holden Seidlitz, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
Verb
And thanks to South Florida’s population boom, real estate developers are descending on Wellington’s pastures.
—Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 7 May 2026
The next morning, in rainy Washington, the protester came down from the bridge, descending via an internal ladder in the arch.
—Antonia Hitchens, New Yorker, 7 May 2026
For months, a dark cloud had been coming and going, descending for longer each time.
—Literary Hub, 5 May 2026
The Bernina Express winds through striking Alpine scenery before descending into warm, sunlit Mediterranean landscapes, revealing a stunning panorama that feels almost cinematic.
—Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 4 May 2026
Hundreds of the biggest names in entertainment and fashion are descending upon the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday for the annual Met Gala.
—Tom Tapp, Deadline, 4 May 2026
Only weeks remain before hundreds of thousands of soccer fans are expected to start descending on Kansas City for the first game, on June 16, of the month-long 2026 FIFA World Cup competition.
—Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 1 May 2026
This season has been an adventure, with thousands descending on Seville and Porto in particular, transforming those cities into a sea of red for a few glorious days.
—Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 30 Apr. 2026
Footage shows the lovebird riding high inside a clear cabin attached to a drone, as the contraption glides through the air before gently descending toward the ground.
—Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descending
Verb
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Oakland's housing market is seeing some of the steepest price declines in the country, with home values falling sharply as sellers, buyers and real estate agents navigate a difficult market.—
Kenny Choi,
CBS News,
12 May 2026
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Despite this spark of hope, by his teens, Ian’s dreams of becoming a soccer player are falling apart as rejection, oppression and his own internal rage take their toll.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
12 May 2026
Verb
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Mohammadi’s family said her health had been deteriorating in prison, in part because she was heavily beaten during her arrest.—
Sarah el Deeb,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2026
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In recent years, the island’s deteriorating infrastructure has been a backdrop for violence, neglect, and death; a federal judge has deemed its conditions unconstitutional.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
Verb
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Netflix is plunging deeper into the Harlan Coben business with a new series based on his Myron Bolitar novels.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
13 May 2026
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The actress and singer wore a plunging one-piece for the beachside photoshoot, which was captured by photographer Kat Irlin in South Caicos.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
Verb
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The popular halftime performer known as Red Panda finished her signature seven-minute set, looked up at a crowd of fans chanting her name and flashed a smile before dismounting.—
Alanis Thames,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Jan. 2026
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The woman told investigators Herzing had made similar threats in July, which resulted in the victim suffering minor scrapes after dismounting at a stoplight.—
Lauren Breunig,
Twin Cities,
2 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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James O’Donoghue, a planetary scientist with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, likened our planet’s tilting phenomenon to a nodding head.—
Aylin Woodward,
WSJ,
21 Dec. 2021
Verb
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Surrounded by mature trees, dense greenery, and high walls, the grounds create a private, park-like idyll with sloping lawns, spacious terraces, and views toward the Hollywood Hills and Griffith Park Observatory, with a swimming pool at the center of the estate.—
Mark David,
Robb Report,
7 May 2026
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Tyler Karu Design and Interiors set up comfortable seating that creates an indoor-outdoor feel built for lingering over a view of the sloping green lawn leading to the water.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that Cuban authorities have not accepted an offer of $100 million in humanitarian aid from the United States to help a population struggling with widespread shortages and a crumbling economy.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
8 May 2026
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Gang violence, death threats and a crumbling judicial system have stalled an ongoing investigation.—
David Fischer,
Sun Sentinel,
8 May 2026
Verb
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The resulting brawl saw the alligator rapidly tumbling at the officers like a log rolling down hill.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
12 May 2026
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Even then, Toyota never had the outright pace of BMW, with the #8 Toyota eventually tumbling out of the top 10 after two stops on consecutive laps.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
9 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Descending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descending. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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