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
Holy Week begins with a triumphal procession, descends into betrayal and death, and ends with resurrection.
—
The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Ribbon Fall, which descends 1,612 feet and marks Yosemite’s single largest drop, is a slender plunge and could be gone by June, Goehring says.
—Kurtis Alexander, San Francisco Chronicle, 4 Apr. 2026
In the spacecraft hangar where Fox McCloud preps his ship, a small rocket descends on the launch pad.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Apr. 2026
The famous foliage descends upon the property, and guests awaken to crisp mornings that are best accompanied by grabbing a fresh cup of coffee and heading out for a pre-breakfast walk.
—Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2026
The slasher takes place in an idyllic summer town that descends into madness when an ice cream man serves kids from his truck with horrifying results.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 31 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 Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 5 Apr. 2026
Ribbon Fall, which descends 1,612 feet and marks Yosemite’s single largest drop, is a slender plunge and could be gone by June, Goehring says.
—Kurtis Alexander, San Francisco Chronicle, 4 Apr. 2026
In the spacecraft hangar where Fox McCloud preps his ship, a small rocket descends on the launch pad.
—Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Apr. 2026
The famous foliage descends upon the property, and guests awaken to crisp mornings that are best accompanied by grabbing a fresh cup of coffee and heading out for a pre-breakfast walk.
—Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 1 Apr. 2026
The slasher takes place in an idyllic summer town that descends into madness when an ice cream man serves kids from his truck with horrifying results.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 31 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descends
Verb
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That means Easter Sunday never falls later than April 25.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
4 Apr. 2026
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On shrill winter nights, Moscow’s power is conspicuous, its Orthodox cathedrals and Stalinist high-rises illuminated, though the view falls dim in the autumn and spring, shrouded in sheets of greige.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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And as our credit deteriorates, borrowing gets more expensive, forcing us to borrow more to keep up, which worsens our credit further.—
Bill Conway,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
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When hospitals operate under extreme and unpredictable demand spikes, patient safety deteriorates.—
Eugene Litvak,
STAT,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The Guardians must protect the Legendary Silver Crystal when a battle erupts with a mysterious enemy during the Celestial Ball and plunges the Moon Palace into chaos.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
3 Apr. 2026
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By day, the road between Presidio and Terlingua, through Big Bend Ranch State Park, curves along the river then climbs and plunges over steep hills.—
Lauren Villagran,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Like the impish anti-romance that crumbles around it, the movie’s twist is both transgressive enough to be pleased with itself and also rooted in a reality that refuses to be dismissed as a bad joke.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Loyalty, betrayal, illness and war all bear down on the group as the old order crumbles around them.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The video shows the plane colliding with the truck, going over the vehicle, which tumbles beneath the jet.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
23 Mar. 2026
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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
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
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In the climax, the yacht docks in Norway, and everyone disembarks.—
Keith Langston,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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And as our credit deteriorates, borrowing gets more expensive, forcing us to borrow more to keep up, which worsens our credit further.—
Bill Conway,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Distress could spread to countries beyond the Gulf if dire conditions prompt residents to flee across borders and infrastructure damage worsens a global oil shock, analysts said.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Packing a staggering 228 horsepower into a featherweight package that dips to just 368 lb (167 kg) in track-ready trim, this isn’t merely another halo superbike.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
4 Apr. 2026
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The seven-mile Torreya Challenge Loop steadily climbs and dips, meandering over creeks, an old forest road, and blackberry brambles, following a ridge where mountain laurels bloom in the spring, and visitors can find the steepest incline in the park.—
Carrie Honaker,
Travel + Leisure,
3 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Descends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descends. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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