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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2025
Inflation, which had peaked at an annual rate above 9%, was descending fitfully toward the Fed's goal of 2%.
—Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2025
Gradually descending, the capsule carried the astronauts from the space station, which orbits about 250 miles (400 kilometers) above Earth, toward the thick inner layer of our planet’s atmosphere.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN, 18 Mar. 2025
Taking a page from Travis Scott’s playbook, the 36-year-old Harlem rapper made a dramatic entrance for his headlining set at the music festival on Saturday (March 15), descending onto the stage from a helicopter that hovered over the massive crowd at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif.
—Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 16 Mar. 2025
Their voices are descending at me.
—Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 12 Mar. 2025
The science-fiction saga sees two forces who fight for control of the galaxy, the noble Ones and the evil Zeros, descending upon the French fishing village of Audresselles and trying to recruit the locals to their respective causes.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 Mar. 2025
Another video, taken near the B Ocean Resort, showed a group of nearly a dozen fiery streaks descending toward the ocean.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2025
Drama fans and industry execs descending upon the northern French city of Lille for Series Mania this year can expect stars, politics and premieres.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 6 Mar. 2025
Verb
And what's in Jim's hand as he's seen descending the stairways?
—Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 24 Mar. 2025
Inflation, which had peaked at an annual rate above 9%, was descending fitfully toward the Fed's goal of 2%.
—Daniel De Visé, USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2025
Gradually descending, the capsule carried the astronauts from the space station, which orbits about 250 miles (400 kilometers) above Earth, toward the thick inner layer of our planet’s atmosphere.
—Jackie Wattles, CNN, 18 Mar. 2025
Taking a page from Travis Scott’s playbook, the 36-year-old Harlem rapper made a dramatic entrance for his headlining set at the music festival on Saturday (March 15), descending onto the stage from a helicopter that hovered over the massive crowd at Hollywood Park in Inglewood, Calif.
—Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 16 Mar. 2025
Their voices are descending at me.
—Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 12 Mar. 2025
The science-fiction saga sees two forces who fight for control of the galaxy, the noble Ones and the evil Zeros, descending upon the French fishing village of Audresselles and trying to recruit the locals to their respective causes.
—Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 7 Mar. 2025
Another video, taken near the B Ocean Resort, showed a group of nearly a dozen fiery streaks descending toward the ocean.
—Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2025
Drama fans and industry execs descending upon the northern French city of Lille for Series Mania this year can expect stars, politics and premieres.
—Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 6 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descending
Verb
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One possible, yet expensive, remedy would be to bury power lines underground, or confine them in above-ground enclosures, removing the threat of toppling or damage by gusty winds, by falling vegetation or by other above-ground destabilizing factors.—
Hugo A Loaiciga,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
25 Mar. 2025
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That was what turned last night’s game around and what may be the difference between this team getting all the way to April 6 or falling short.—
John Nogowski,
Hartford Courant,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Dahl’s relationship with the police department was deteriorating.—
Ronan Farrow,
The New Yorker,
24 Mar. 2025
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Retail experts saw a lack of investment in Hudson’s Bay stores, diminishing service levels and deteriorating physical conditions, like malfunctioning escalators and water damage in certain locations.—
David Moin,
WWD,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
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In one set of photos, she is seen wearing a black dress with a plunging neckline from the collection.—
Ingrid Vasquez,
People.com,
15 Mar. 2025
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The dress featured a plunging neckline and thick straps with a hemline above Cavallari’s knees.—
Julia Teti,
WWD,
14 Mar. 2025
Verb
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This stylish planter keeps plants well-watered and is virtually indestructible, designed to resist cracking and crumbling even in freezing temperatures.—
Rachel Ahrnsen,
Better Homes & Gardens,
3 Jan. 2025
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In the meantime, families can only guess how long their crumbling foundations will support their walls.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
31 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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No racist stereotypes, no demeaning facial expressions, no bowed heads, and no broken bodies from the old Hollywood.—
David Faris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 July 2025
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The composer also added synths to his orchestral score, as well as bowed metal, where a violin bow is rubbed against metal instruments like a cowbell or a Vibraphone, for when Roz has a particularly intense feeling.—
Mia Galuppo,
The Hollywood Reporter,
6 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Highly flammable tamarisk shrubs have taken root in thick stands near streams in the western US, and eucalyptus — one of the primary invasive trees blamed for worsening Chile’s recent wildfires as well as fires in Portugal — increases wildfire risk in California.—
Kylie Mohr,
Vox,
8 Jan. 2025
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The United States withdrew its forces from Europe while demanding debt payments from allies, who passed the costs on to Germany, worsening its financial turmoil and hastening its slide into Nazism.—
Michael Beckley,
Foreign Affairs,
7 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Temperatures will climb to around 70 degrees on Tuesday before dipping to 67 degrees on Wednesday.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
24 Mar. 2025
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But why limit ranch to dipping finger foods or flavoring everyone's favorite casserole?—
Erin Hooker,
Better Homes & Gardens,
20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.—
David Mamet,
National Review,
11 Aug. 2022
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The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Descending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descending. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
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