1
as in falls
to lead or extend downward
the pathway descends to the river bank
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
As the summer air thickens with diffused sunlight and harsh humidity, a psychological fog descends on our young protagonist.
—
Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
And water aerobics for senior women descends into a bizarre request.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 15 Mar. 2026
With fewer than 100 days until the FIFA World Cup descends on Kansas City, city leaders could soon ask the tournament’s organizers for money to help KC further address homelessness during the major event this summer and beyond.
—Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2026
Learn about Outside Online's affiliate link policy Spearfisher and free diver Kimi Werner descends more than 100 feet on a single breath.
—Stella Fong, Outside, 10 Mar. 2026
The European social set descends on this Cape Town party spot every summer for its white sand and chilly blue water, as well as the trendy clubs and hotels that lie in the shadow of the Twelve Apostles mountain range.
—Melanie Van Zyl, Travel + Leisure, 6 Mar. 2026
The scouting combine is the unofficial kickoff to the NFL offseason, as the entire football universe descends on Indianapolis’ abundant hotel lobbies and steakhouses to have discussions about free agency and the draft.
—Dan Duggan, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2026
The result, on paper, is a bike that climbs quickly and descends even quicker.
—New Atlas, 24 Feb. 2026
Bear left for the Horseshoe Bend segment that descends quickly to the Agua Fria River.
—Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
And water aerobics for senior women descends into a bizarre request.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 15 Mar. 2026
With fewer than 100 days until the FIFA World Cup descends on Kansas City, city leaders could soon ask the tournament’s organizers for money to help KC further address homelessness during the major event this summer and beyond.
—Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2026
Learn about Outside Online's affiliate link policy Spearfisher and free diver Kimi Werner descends more than 100 feet on a single breath.
—Stella Fong, Outside, 10 Mar. 2026
The European social set descends on this Cape Town party spot every summer for its white sand and chilly blue water, as well as the trendy clubs and hotels that lie in the shadow of the Twelve Apostles mountain range.
—Melanie Van Zyl, Travel + Leisure, 6 Mar. 2026
The scouting combine is the unofficial kickoff to the NFL offseason, as the entire football universe descends on Indianapolis’ abundant hotel lobbies and steakhouses to have discussions about free agency and the draft.
—Dan Duggan, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2026
The result, on paper, is a bike that climbs quickly and descends even quicker.
—New Atlas, 24 Feb. 2026
Bear left for the Horseshoe Bend segment that descends quickly to the Agua Fria River.
—Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descends
Verb
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The rules of the game state that, if a head of a household falls, the next person in succession must take their place and fight, or their entire family line will get blown up by Satan.—
Jada Yuan,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2026
-
By the time the curtain falls, dozens of audience members have become part of the show.—
Hanna Wickes,
Charlotte Observer,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The turtle slows, more organisms attach, and the animal’s condition deteriorates.—
Ryan Brennan,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 Mar. 2026
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The movie, out now, follows Irene (Liu), her son Joe (Lawrence Shou), whose relationship deteriorates in the wake of his schizophrenia diagnosis.—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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There's something so timeless and romantic about hair that almost audibly tumbles down one's back.—
Marci Robin,
Allure,
9 Mar. 2026
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Regrettably, the series fully tumbles downhill in Episode 3.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
5 Mar. 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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China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Friday urged for a peaceful resolution of the Afghanistan-Pakistan dispute, warning the use of force worsens tensions and threatens regional stability.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
14 Mar. 2026
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At high speeds, the rotors generate significant drag, which worsens as the blades spin faster.—
David Szondy
March 09,
New Atlas,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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How does Alabama fall down to mortal, but Ohio State never dips?—
Stewart Mandel,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
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Recorded following the filming of his latest sci-fi, Ash (whose score is some of FlyLo’s most boilerplate, Stranger-Things-backwash sounding music yet), this short, seven-song EP dips back into the frantic BPMs of his earlier releases to see if there’s any juice left in the cartridge.—
Sam Goldner,
Pitchfork,
9 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Descends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descends. Accessed 20 Mar. 2026.
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