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 assault
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
Will studios abandon new work for memeslop or nobly resist a descent into IP-management nothingness?
—
Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 30 Mar. 2026
The system’s ability to operate across different mission modes—from orbiters to descent probes and aerial platforms—further enhances its versatility and scientific value.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 30 Mar. 2026
Unfortunately, that task has been much harder lately, as the Heat continued their descent into their annual spring Play-In Tournament destination by collapsing defensively yet again.
—Law Murray, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
There was no legal basis for segregating students of Mexican descent from other students.
—Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for descent
Steven Zeitchik, HollywoodReporter, 30 Mar. 2026
The system’s ability to operate across different mission modes—from orbiters to descent probes and aerial platforms—further enhances its versatility and scientific value.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 30 Mar. 2026
Unfortunately, that task has been much harder lately, as the Heat continued their descent into their annual spring Play-In Tournament destination by collapsing defensively yet again.
—Law Murray, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2026
There was no legal basis for segregating students of Mexican descent from other students.
—Jemma Stephenson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for descent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descent
Noun
-
Sorokin was locked in from the drop of the puck, denying Colin Blackwell on a shorthanded breakaway 10 minutes in and making a handful of other 10-bell saves on quality scoring chances in the first period alone.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
By 2033, the trust fund will run dry, triggering that immense, across-the-board drop that is slated to punish the most vulnerable Americans by collapsing all benefits an equal share regardless of income.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
26 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Built in 1948, the bridge is not as old as others in the city, but the concrete is in bad condition as a result of years of deterioration and weather, said Keith Echternach, DPW program manager of Bridge Design.—
Alysa Guffey,
IndyStar,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Years of economic deterioration have tipped into something more acute.—
Thomas E. Franklin,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Using a combination of durable ceramic materials and specialized membranes, the filtration unit can remove extremely small contaminants while maintaining stable operation through a self-cleaning thermal mechanism that prevents buildup and degradation over time.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Coupled with a significant degradation of Iranian military power, something already underway, these objectives would constitute an acceptable end to the war.—
Colin Pascal,
Baltimore Sun,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Video of Raftery's stunned reaction to the scene on the court quickly went viral on social media, which promptly delivered jokes about the 82-year-old's potential demise.—
Andrew McCarty,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The scouts blame the ascension of Rob Manfred to MLB commissioner in 2015 as a key reason for their demise.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The potential ground operation would reportedly fall short of a full-scale invasion but could involve raids by a mixture of Special Operations forces and conventional infantry troops, the officials were quoted as saying.—
Dylan Butts,
CNBC,
30 Mar. 2026
-
In retaliation for a ground invasion, Iran’s Houthi allies in Yemen could attack ships in the Red Sea, halting the flow of oil and cargo via a route that’s been used to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
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At present, as America's military aggression and assault continue with full force, all our efforts and resources are devoted to defending Iran's very existence.—
Lucia I Suarez Sang,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
After investigating the shooting, Boston Police detectives were able to obtain a warrant for the suspect out of Suffolk County Juvenile Court for several gun charges and armed assault to murder.—
Colleen Cronin,
Boston Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Hence a new lawsuit challenging a medical scholarship administered by the Department of Health and Human Services that bars applicants who don’t have Native Hawaiian ancestry.—
Editorial Board,
Washington Post,
30 Mar. 2026
-
In the Americas, only Chile and Colombia do not grant birthright citizenship, relying instead on jus sanguinis or citizenship based on ancestry rather than place of birth.—
Dan Gooding,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Downs, 21, a 6-foot, 206-pound game wrecker, is an Alabama transfer who disrupts offenses consistently with a high football IQ and a downhill, violent play style.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Posting 21 points by halftime, Banchero was quick to find his spots with turnaround jumpers and aggressive downhill attacks that led to multiple trips to the free throw line.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Descent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descent. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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