as in bowing
bending downward or forward
with descending heads the mourners made their way to the burial site
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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 descending
Zacharie Petit, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025
On one end, the structure has large terrace-like steps descending into the earth.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2025
Returning from an alpine lake, the pair took a different route from their hike in, ascending and descending the 11,300-foot Burro Lake Pass.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 13 Oct. 2025
This week saw Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos descending on the Eternal City to announce the streaming giant’s plans to help revive a storied cinema, as well as a host of international TV executives mooting the possibility of an upturn that could pull the global drama biz out of its recent doldrums.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 10 Oct. 2025
Freight rate collapse continues All the carriers’ operational shifts come as freight rates keep descending.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 29 Sep. 2025
While the enemies and level design, as well as the progression of the descending route is a clear inversion and iteration of the original, the second half of the game feels downright experimental.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025
In Will There Ever Be Another You, the main character struggles with an illness similar to long COVID, descending into a state of debility and psychosis as readers experience the chaos of her unraveling life.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 26 Sep. 2025
No, that’s not a colony of beautiful space aliens from Planet Claire descending upon the nearest amphitheater to entertain us.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
Verb
Two men, one wearing a yellow vest and a black face covering, and a second wearing all black and a motorbike helmet, can be seen in the video quickly descending in the lift positioned at the side of the museum.
—Zacharie Petit, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2025
On one end, the structure has large terrace-like steps descending into the earth.
—Aspen Pflughoeft, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2025
Returning from an alpine lake, the pair took a different route from their hike in, ascending and descending the 11,300-foot Burro Lake Pass.
—Owen Clarke, Outside, 13 Oct. 2025
This week saw Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos descending on the Eternal City to announce the streaming giant’s plans to help revive a storied cinema, as well as a host of international TV executives mooting the possibility of an upturn that could pull the global drama biz out of its recent doldrums.
—Christopher Vourlias, Variety, 10 Oct. 2025
Freight rate collapse continues All the carriers’ operational shifts come as freight rates keep descending.
—Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 29 Sep. 2025
While the enemies and level design, as well as the progression of the descending route is a clear inversion and iteration of the original, the second half of the game feels downright experimental.
—Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025
In Will There Ever Be Another You, the main character struggles with an illness similar to long COVID, descending into a state of debility and psychosis as readers experience the chaos of her unraveling life.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 26 Sep. 2025
No, that’s not a colony of beautiful space aliens from Planet Claire descending upon the nearest amphitheater to entertain us.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 25 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descending
Verb
-
In effect, farmers in rural America have warned of an impending economic crisis from the compounding factors of losing their top export market, falling crop prices and high costs.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
30 Oct. 2025
-
With words infallibly falling short, Pritam mingled realism with a fragmentary style of narration that meshes together social encounters, violent episodes, vivid metaphors, disturbing dreams, memories, intimate self-reflections, and introspection on society.—
JSTOR Daily,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Instead, the property has passed hands from private owner to private owner, hidden from view off a lonely winding road, slowly deteriorating over the years.—
Amanda Rosa
October 23,
Miami Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Grid operators are warning of steep increases in electricity demand for the first time in decades, leading utilities to race to expand capacity by reviving plans for natural-gas plants or building new ones, and, in some regions, even extending the life of deteriorating coal facilities.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Beyond Meat shares have collapsed over the past five years, starting with a 48% plunge in 2021 and plunging further until Roundhill Investments added the stock to its Roundhill Meme Stock ETF (MEME) on Monday.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
24 Oct. 2025
-
For the nuptials, Bella wore an plunging green gown with pleating on the bodice and a thigh-high slit up the floor-sweeping ruffled skirt.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The new cleat should be particularly appealing to racers – who need to snap back in as quickly as possible after dismounting – and to riders who are intimidated by the learning curve involved in using clipless pedals for the first time.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
28 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
The quick loss of water is even more evident in areas with banks, sloping lawns, and those with lots of hardscaping like walkways.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
18 Oct. 2025
-
The island’s relaxed energy carries throughout the resort's maze of 29 villas, sloping down a hill towards the beach.—
Katie Lockhart,
Travel + Leisure,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In addition to rampant inflation, goods shortages, and a crumbling labor market, the liquid reserves held in Russia’s National Wealth Fund continue to decline precipitously, down to approximately $35 billion from $117 billion three years ago.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Time,
22 Oct. 2025
-
The dilapidated wooden trim and sagging porticos were spruced up a few years ago after preservationists complained to the Landmarks Preservation Commission, but the upstairs windows reveal glimpses of peeling paint, crumbling plaster, and collapsing ceilings inside.—
Kim Velsey,
Curbed,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Despite the latest meme stock frenzy, Beyond Meat has nonetheless still fallen 23% so far in 2025 after tumbling 58% in 2024.—
Liz Napolitano,
CNBC,
24 Oct. 2025
-
But that would likely send it tumbling, which would raise inflation and undermine one of Milei’s main achievements.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
20 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Descending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descending. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share