1
as in drop
the act or process of going to a lower level or altitude
the airplane began its gradual descent to the landing field
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deterioration
a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body
the family patriarch's heartbreaking descent into infirmity and senility
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3
as in degradation
a change to a lower state or level
the nation's rapid descent into anarchy after the revolution
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4
as in demise
a loss of status
for throwing the game, the ballplayer underwent a huge descent in the eyes of the fans
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5
as in invasion
a sudden attack on and entrance into hostile territory
the lightning descent of the invading army on that unsuspecting border town
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6
as in attack
the act or action of setting upon with force or violence
the descent of the voracious locusts on the wheat fields
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7
as in ancestry
the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended
a person of Finnish descent
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8
as in downhill
a downward slope
on bicycle tours the ascents always seem to outnumber the descents
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of descent
Their mission is to creatively inspire and connect people of African descent to assert their value and engage in social and cultural change.
—
Essence, 5 Aug. 2025
The unidentified man was reportedly of Moroccan descent, married to a woman from Spain and has a family of his own.
—Hedy Phillips, People.com, 1 Aug. 2025
The son of Joseph, a Native Hawaiian painter, and Coni, an artist largely of European descent, he was born in Honolulu but mostly raised by his mother in Iowa while spending several summers in Hawaii with his father.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 1 Aug. 2025
Lopez, 64, has consistently voiced outrage over the controversial raids, and previously called on the MLB team to voice their support for immigrants and people of Latino descent within their community.
—Toria Sheffield, People.com, 2 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for descent
Essence, 5 Aug. 2025
The unidentified man was reportedly of Moroccan descent, married to a woman from Spain and has a family of his own.
—Hedy Phillips, People.com, 1 Aug. 2025
The son of Joseph, a Native Hawaiian painter, and Coni, an artist largely of European descent, he was born in Honolulu but mostly raised by his mother in Iowa while spending several summers in Hawaii with his father.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 1 Aug. 2025
Lopez, 64, has consistently voiced outrage over the controversial raids, and previously called on the MLB team to voice their support for immigrants and people of Latino descent within their community.
—Toria Sheffield, People.com, 2 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for descent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descent
Noun
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Try enjoying your favorite tea variety—such as black, jasmine, or green tea—with a few drops of honey for a bit of sweetness.—
Samantha Lauriello,
Health,
6 Aug. 2025
-
Rates in murder and non-negligent manslaughter saw the biggest drop among the four categories, and is the lowest rate in nine years.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
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By diplomatic standards, the deterioration has been abrupt.—
Andreas Kluth,
Mercury News,
14 Aug. 2025
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Other economists — such as those at Goldman Sachs Group Inc., Citigroup Inc. and UBS Group AG — interpreted the rapid deterioration in hiring more as a sign of weak labor demand, which would push the Fed to commence with rate reductions at its next policy meeting in September.—
Ashley Lutz,
Fortune,
9 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The degradation of individual and societal health spirals downward while the most powerful controllers of the medical and pharmaceutical industries thrive.—
David Marks,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 Aug. 2025
-
The degradation and genocide of Indigenous Americans on the mainland is widely known.—
Aramide Tinubu,
Variety,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Claire’s first filed for bankruptcy back in 2018, blaming similar larger economic factors for its demise.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
6 Aug. 2025
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So, while rumors of its demise aren’t true, the show’s survival does underscore a bigger question: As federal dollars disappear, how many other programs (especially those without Tiny Desk’s global fanbase) will be able to weather the storm?—
Andy Meek,
Forbes.com,
5 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Zelensky has also warned that territory conceded to Russia would simply be used as a springboard for further invasions, as happened with Crimea, illegally annexed by Moscow in 2014, and used as a launchpad for the full-scale war in 2022.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
14 Aug. 2025
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After a home invasion that put his wife, Becca (Connie Nielsen) and kids Sammy (Paisley Cadorath) and Brady (Gage Monroe) in peril, Hutch snaps back to his old ways as an off-the-books government assassin and goes scorched earth on the bad guys.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
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But just this week, BPD arrested two undocumented immigrants caught on camera carrying out a violent attack in Canton.—
WBFF STAFF,
Baltimore Sun,
16 Aug. 2025
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Education has been under attack in Florida for decades; the dumbing down of our schools and society is notorious.—
Robert Kesten,
The Orlando Sentinel,
16 Aug. 2025
Noun
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American Bullies share common ancestry with pit bulls but are generally more laid back in temperament.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
13 Aug. 2025
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This most recent edition provides players with several classes and ancestries built to allow for maximum control of character customization.—
Rob Wieland,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The ride itself starts the next day with a downhill run from Roncesvalles following the Iratí River, stopping to visit the 12th-century Romanesque Church of Santa María Eunate along the way.—
Cassidy Randall,
Forbes.com,
6 Aug. 2025
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Crested Butte Mountain Resort’s Evolution Bike Park features two double black diamond downhills: Psycho Rocks and Captain Jack.—
Melanie Haiken,
Outside Online,
23 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Descent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descent. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.
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