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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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of descending
Holden Seidlitz, New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2026
Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 6 Apr. 2026
That, of course, can’t last forever, and soon enough, the entire family is descending on Malcolm’s life, turning it upside down.
—Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 6 Apr. 2026
The agency said 25 skiers had been descending Val Ridanna, an 18-kilometer, high-alpine valley in the Bolzano province of Italy, at an altitude of about 2,400 meters when the avalanche struck.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 5 Apr. 2026
Once through the zone of maximum heating, the capsule will be descending at a much more sedate velocity of 300 mph or so.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Further details are under wraps, but the project has been described as Before Sunrise descending into Good Time.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 31 Mar. 2026
By supporting both hips and knees together, the system helps smooth out effort across each step, whether climbing, descending or moving across uneven ground.
—New Atlas, 30 Mar. 2026
The film follows a summer town descending into madness when an ice cream man serves kids sweet delights with horrifying results.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 30 Mar. 2026
McDonald and Loggins hadn’t seen each other in quite some time before descending upon Puth’s studio.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 27 Mar. 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
After separation, the weapon follows a steep ballistic trajectory, descending at high velocity toward its target.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 6 Apr. 2026
That, of course, can’t last forever, and soon enough, the entire family is descending on Malcolm’s life, turning it upside down.
—Stuart Miller, Oc Register, 6 Apr. 2026
The agency said 25 skiers had been descending Val Ridanna, an 18-kilometer, high-alpine valley in the Bolzano province of Italy, at an altitude of about 2,400 meters when the avalanche struck.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 5 Apr. 2026
Once through the zone of maximum heating, the capsule will be descending at a much more sedate velocity of 300 mph or so.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
Further details are under wraps, but the project has been described as Before Sunrise descending into Good Time.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 31 Mar. 2026
By supporting both hips and knees together, the system helps smooth out effort across each step, whether climbing, descending or moving across uneven ground.
—New Atlas, 30 Mar. 2026
The film follows a summer town descending into madness when an ice cream man serves kids sweet delights with horrifying results.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 30 Mar. 2026
McDonald and Loggins hadn’t seen each other in quite some time before descending upon Puth’s studio.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 27 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descending
Verb
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By 2025, Anderson — then 59 and nearing completion of her bachelor’s degree — was failing classes and falling behind on bills.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Apr. 2026
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The Maryland Department of the Environment (MDE) says lead paint is falling from six Baltimore-area bridges and contaminating waterways.—
Adam Thompson,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Kennedy Center leadership is conducting tours with congressional staff and donors to demonstrate that the building needs major renovation due to water damage, HVAC issues and deteriorating infrastructure.—
Steven Sloan,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
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Lake County has taken the first steps towards absorbing the responsibilities of the essentially defunct Del Mar Woods Sanitary District, a tiny government unit consisting of a subdivision with fewer than 90 lots and deteriorating sewer pipes.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Trump’s move to shutter the building for two years starting in July, which was approved by the board last month, has spurred lawsuits and an outcry that the closure is merely a response to plunging sales as artists canceled Kennedy Center performances in droves.—
Steven Sloan,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
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In February, a mix of snow and road salt seeped into underground electrical equipment, plunging more than 5,000 of our constituents in Park Slope, Boerum Hill, Crown Heights, Bed-Stuy, and Bushwick into darkness.—
Shahana Hanif,
New York Daily News,
14 Apr. 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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The height comes from a stance atop 20-inch wheels, and the vehicle’s sloping hood descends low, like a brooding brow.—
John Scott Lewinski,
Robb Report,
8 Apr. 2026
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Tenkan-sen is above the Kijun-sen, with both lines sloping upward.—
Karl Montevirgen,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Other signs warned of danger from crumbling masonry overhead, though there was none of the scaffolding that might accompany such notices.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2026
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The search for the source Why does finding a hidden, crumbling asteroid matter?—
Patrick M. Shober,
The Conversation,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Case in point, the dramatic lobby installations from star florist and designer Jeff Leatham, which might include gorgeous, tumbling floral displays in the spring, or a giant plexiglass reindeer in the winter.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Apr. 2026
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Salesforce fell for its fifth straight session on Friday, tumbling nearly 12% for the week.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
11 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Descending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descending. Accessed 18 Apr. 2026.
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