DESCENDS (ON OR UPON) Synonyms: 69 Similar and Opposite Words

descends (on or upon)

verb

present tense third-person singular of descend (on or upon)

as in attacks

to take sudden, violent action against the shock troops descended on the village without warning

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for descends (on or upon)

Verb

Sheepstealer attacks Syrax, who breaks free long enough to pick up Rhaenyra and Rhaena and carry them back to the safety of King’s Landing.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026
Shortly after she was diagnosed with class 3 lupus nephritis, a serious complication in which lupus attacks the kidneys.

— Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of attacks

Verb

Anyone who assaults law enforcement will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

— Christina Fan, CBS News, 7 June 2026
Any passenger who assaults, threatens, intimidates or interferes with airline crew members can lead to penalties of up to $43,658 per violation, according to the FAA.

— Cindy Von Quednow, CNN Money, 3 May 2026

Definition of assaults

Verb

In the character's final scene, as the DEA raids her rural compound, Laurie ties a rope around her neck and jumps from the roof of her home.

— Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 1 June 2026
In the meantime, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) finally raids Laurie's property, thanks to the intel Rue had been giving them.

— Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 1 June 2026

Definition of raids

Verb

Mars storms the Official Streaming chart with five titles, while one of his most successful collaborations becomes a bestseller again on multiple rosters.

— Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
Although significant, that event was far less powerful than the Carrington Event — or the even rarer storms the new study suggests may be possible.

— Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of storms

Verb

The server placed the tonkatsu sets on the table and left them.

— Min Jin Lee, New Yorker, 19 July 2026
Zverev has also dropped just two sets on the way to the final, maintaining his form like few French Open winners can at Wimbledon, with just two weeks between the tournaments.

— Ava Wallace, New York Times, 12 July 2026

Definition of sets on

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Browse Nearby Words

descends

descends (on or upon)

descent

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Descends (on or upon).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descends%20%28on%20or%20upon%29. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of descends (on or upon)

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

anecdote

Popular in Grammar & Usage

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Aug. 7

How long is a jiffy?

Popular

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes