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
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Relevance
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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
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Recent Examples of descent
The workhorse machine used to stitch together the three massive main parachutes — the most visible during the capsule’s final descent — is a 100-year-old, four-needle Singer.
—
Pat Maio, Oc Register, 29 May 2026
Bowie was also a heavy indulger of booze and recreational drugs during that decade, which mirrored the character’s descent into the destructive nature of fame and fortune and humankind's lesser angels.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 29 May 2026
To underline its determination to do away with racial inequality, the convention seated two men of African descent as full voting members, entitled to share in making laws for the French nation.
—Jeremy D. Popkin, The Conversation, 28 May 2026
It is estimated to occur in up to one-third of adult women of African descent, and can also affect anyone who is in a culture or profession that prioritizes tight hairstyles, such as ballet dancers or those in the military.
—Jana Pollack, Parents, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for descent
Pat Maio, Oc Register, 29 May 2026
Bowie was also a heavy indulger of booze and recreational drugs during that decade, which mirrored the character’s descent into the destructive nature of fame and fortune and humankind's lesser angels.
—Jeff Spry, Space.com, 29 May 2026
To underline its determination to do away with racial inequality, the convention seated two men of African descent as full voting members, entitled to share in making laws for the French nation.
—Jeremy D. Popkin, The Conversation, 28 May 2026
It is estimated to occur in up to one-third of adult women of African descent, and can also affect anyone who is in a culture or profession that prioritizes tight hairstyles, such as ballet dancers or those in the military.
—Jana Pollack, Parents, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for descent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descent
Noun
-
That 10-goal swing explains most of the standings drop.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
-
That excellent start to the season had rapidly become a useful buffer against the drop.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
The global public square has been getting coarser for years, and social media has played a big part in the deterioration.—
Bobby Ghosh,
Time,
1 June 2026
-
The damage required removal of the affected portion in hopes of preventing further deterioration.—
Brian Unger,
CBS News,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
This collection of poems—Orr’s thirteenth—bears bitter witness to environmental degradation, moral corruption, and the aging of a body and of a generation, all viewed from a bird’s eye, wrapped in the language and tone of myth.—
Craig Morgan Teicher,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
-
And a 2024 study found that a larger-than-expected proportion of physicians are leaving after fulfilling their service obligations, citing pay disparity, administrative burden, and clinical skill degradation as key drivers.—
Allison DeAngelis,
STAT,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
The news of Stargate‘s demise was first reported by Variety.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
2 June 2026
-
Surely the demise of America’s most strident ideological foe, ten years after the humiliations of the Iranian hostage crisis, called for greater attention?—
Wyatt Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
In War and Peace, Tolstoy’s concept—among a million other things—was to show how the young people who lived through the Napoleonic invasion went on to lead Russia’s first democratic uprising, the Decembrist Revolt of 1825.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
-
The war in Ukraine has ground on for more than four years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
2 June 2026
Noun
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Between 2012 and 2015, Perry was also convicted of assault likely to cause great bodily injury, domestic violence, possession of ammunition as a felon and fleeing from police in Sacramento County, according to the criminal complaint.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
2 June 2026
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Today, not only are these conditions under assault by a kleptocratic, nativist US federal government, but the clock seems also to be running out on their own internal contradictions.—
Katy Siegel,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
Along with the obvious reasons—the rich culture, history, and culinary heritage—Realtor reports that Americans with Italian ancestry who can trace their ancestry back no more than two generations can also apply for citizenship, which facilitates long-term residency in the country.—
Dobrina Zhekova,
Travel + Leisure,
1 June 2026
-
Many trace their ancestry to countries that France colonized.—
Albert Samaha,
New Yorker,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
Castle has mixed up playing on and off the ball so that his downhill, slow style could come out when needed.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
-
The morning of the Olympic downhill race was sunny and bright.—
Becky Sullivan,
NPR,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Descent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descent. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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