1
as in falls
to lead or extend downward
the pathway descends to the river bank
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deteriorates
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 plunges
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 dismounts
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 descends
Bear left for the Horseshoe Bend segment that descends quickly to the Agua Fria River.
—
Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 20 Feb. 2026
As a small rural settlement is swiftly and ruthlessly stripped bare by the twin plagues of a diphtheria epidemic and spreading wildfires, the film eventually descends into a near-literal hellscape, though even when pandemonium takes over on screen, Van Dusen’s formal control never wavers.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
As the friends and business rivals debate their level of responsibility and decide on a course of action, the weekend descends into scheming, politicking, and violence.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Feb. 2026
The situation quickly spirals out of control, and her life descends into chaos.
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026
As an Earth-orbiting spacecraft descends, temperatures of up to 3,500°F bloom across the heat shield at the bottom of the capsule.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 29 Jan. 2026
Pittsburgh will have the 21st pick when a draft that appears to be thin in quality options at quarterback descends on the Steel City in late April.
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 24 Jan. 2026
Chicago is all bundled up in its warmest winter wear as a polar vortex descends on the Great Lakes region, bringing subzero temps and biting winds.
—Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026
In all six scenarios the team examined, surface material within the top 300 meters descends toward the base of the shell, the new study reports.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 20 Feb. 2026
As a small rural settlement is swiftly and ruthlessly stripped bare by the twin plagues of a diphtheria epidemic and spreading wildfires, the film eventually descends into a near-literal hellscape, though even when pandemonium takes over on screen, Van Dusen’s formal control never wavers.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
As the friends and business rivals debate their level of responsibility and decide on a course of action, the weekend descends into scheming, politicking, and violence.
—Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Feb. 2026
The situation quickly spirals out of control, and her life descends into chaos.
—Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 4 Feb. 2026
As an Earth-orbiting spacecraft descends, temperatures of up to 3,500°F bloom across the heat shield at the bottom of the capsule.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 29 Jan. 2026
Pittsburgh will have the 21st pick when a draft that appears to be thin in quality options at quarterback descends on the Steel City in late April.
—Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 24 Jan. 2026
Chicago is all bundled up in its warmest winter wear as a polar vortex descends on the Great Lakes region, bringing subzero temps and biting winds.
—Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026
In all six scenarios the team examined, surface material within the top 300 meters descends toward the base of the shell, the new study reports.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descends
Verb
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March falls within the start of strawberry season, so what better way to honor the juicy fruit than to wear them on your nails.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
21 Feb. 2026
-
As the share of its imports coming from China falls and Southeast Asian countries pick up the slack, shipments are spending more days in transit time, bringing pressure from retailers to make that up at the docks.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As her vision deteriorates, Penny turns to psychoanalysis not in hopes of reversing her condition, but to confront years of denial and silence.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Europe is tightening the net on Russian oil being shipped through its waters, squeezing Moscow’s ability to fund its war even as officials and business executives in Russia fear the window is narrowing to reach a peace deal before the economy deteriorates.—
Catherine Belton,
Washington Post,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
When Heathcliff, a foundling, discovers that Cathy Earnshaw, the daughter of the impoverished Yorkshire lord who’s taken him in, has played a prank on him by putting eggs in his beds to be crushed, the boy plunges his fingers into the slippery puddle of yolk and albumen left behind.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
9 Feb. 2026
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Madelyn Cline is giving all the stylish WAGS who showed up at the 2026 NFL Honors a run for their money thanks to a blue Christopher Esber gown that plunges all the way to her stomach.—
Emma Banks,
InStyle,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Loyalty, betrayal, illness and war all bear down on the group as the old order crumbles around them.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The song was inspired by surviving a toxic relationship, and then finding a true-hearted love that crumbles emotional walls.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Those records are only going to get worse with time as the team tumbles toward the draft lottery.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The ceremony turns into something reminiscent of the Cooper's Hill Cheese-Rolling and Wake, as the last keg tumbles down a nearby hill and the entire wedding party follows.—
Sarah Whitten,Sara Salinas,Sarah Jackson,Leslie Josephs,
CNBC,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
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When border agents board during a stop (each with wanted posters of Philip and Elizabeth), Paige disembarks.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Jan. 2026
-
In the climax, the yacht docks in Norway, and everyone disembarks.—
Keith Langston,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The presenters discussed how periodontitis, a severe form of gum disease that worsens with age, affects the bone and tissues supporting the teeth.—
Angelica Stabile,
FOXNews.com,
21 Feb. 2026
-
Asthma worsens with polluted air.—
Yoca Arditi-Rocha,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In San Diego, where the surf is consistent and the weather rarely dips below perfect, the forecast for this club has changed.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
21 Feb. 2026
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According to the city, the program which works through the Open Rewards app on Apple and Google app stores helps boost Southlake’s sales tax revenue when businesses see dips right after the Christmas holiday season.—
Fousia Abdullahi,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Descends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descends. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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