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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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
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Recent Examples of descent
Another possible scenario is descent into chaos, as Iran’s multiple ethnic groups vie for power.
—
Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 20 June 2025
Hogg is a member of the Florida generation who saw the state’s gradual — then meteoric — descent into uni-party politics.
—Maximo Bratter, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 June 2025
The 6-foot-2-inch, 195-pound Brooklyn-born forward of Russian descent played a career-high 20 contests with the parent club last season.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 18 June 2025
Like many Black Oklahomans, Dorn and Kristi Williams are descendants of Black Creek Freedmen—people of African descent who were either enslaved by citizens of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, lived freely within the Nation, or were of mixed ancestry and later categorized as Freedmen after emancipation.
—Kristal Brent Zook, Essence, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for descent
Nadeen Ebrahim, CNN Money, 20 June 2025
Hogg is a member of the Florida generation who saw the state’s gradual — then meteoric — descent into uni-party politics.
—Maximo Bratter, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 June 2025
The 6-foot-2-inch, 195-pound Brooklyn-born forward of Russian descent played a career-high 20 contests with the parent club last season.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 18 June 2025
Like many Black Oklahomans, Dorn and Kristi Williams are descendants of Black Creek Freedmen—people of African descent who were either enslaved by citizens of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation, lived freely within the Nation, or were of mixed ancestry and later categorized as Freedmen after emancipation.
—Kristal Brent Zook, Essence, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for descent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descent
Noun
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Inspired by streetwear marketing that plays on exclusivity and hype, Absolute Merch’s full-scale merch strategies also feature merch drops and limited-edition designs that power community and revenue, often leading to merch trades among fans.—
Andrea Zarczynski,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
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That can play an important role, but crime analysts say the reasons behind these drops are more complex and broader.—
Meg Anderson,
NPR,
30 June 2025
Noun
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Most of the time, the summer slide—in other words, the deterioration of intellectual skills gained during the school year, during a period when kids are on breaks—is associated with a student’s reading skills, says Alexander.—
Sherri Gordon,
Parents,
25 June 2025
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The disease causes deterioration of nerve cells in the brain, a process that sets off a series of worsening symptoms.—
Jack Knudson,
Discover Magazine,
19 June 2025
Noun
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In 2023, the U.S. Geological Survey reported that projected coral reef degradation in Florida could increase the coastal flood risk to more than 7,300 people at the cost of $823.6 million annually.—
Rafe Pomerance,
Sun Sentinel,
6 July 2025
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The administration cited the degradation of the current FBI complex as a reason for the move.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
1 July 2025
Noun
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Just months after Saint Archer’s demise, though, Japanese brewing behemoth Sapporo bought the county’s largest brewery, Stone.—
Peter Rowe,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 July 2025
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Despite Cordelia Chase’s unfortunate demise in the Buffy spinoff Angel, Charisma Carpenter is game to revive the character in the upcoming Buffy reboot.—
Nick Caruso,
TVLine,
2 July 2025
Noun
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Following last week's invasion of the Carrie body snatchers storyline, an opening montage of Carrie click-clacking around her Gramercy Park townhouse in various designer heels resets the stage for a return to peak Carrie form.—
Megan McCluskey,
Time,
27 June 2025
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Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, and NATO allies fear Moscow has more ambitions in the former Soviet sphere, especially the Baltic states.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 June 2025
Noun
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Sunday’s attacks follow Russian President Vladimir Putin’s comments two days ago that Moscow is ready for a fresh round of direct peace talks in Istanbul.—
Volodymyr Yurchuk,
Chicago Tribune,
29 June 2025
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Russia has stepped up attacks on Ukraine despite talks between the two countries in Istanbul, which were supposed to lead to a ceasefire.—
Joanna Kakissis,
NPR,
29 June 2025
Noun
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Although ancient American ancestry in modern dogs has mostly vanished, there is at least one breed that still carries the native legacy from thousands of years ago: Chihuahuas.—
Jack Knudson,
Discover Magazine,
18 June 2025
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In one Tulsa, Oklahoma classroom, 74-year-old Sharon Mitchell is discovering ancient Egypt, feeling the pride of her ancestry.—
Kristal Brent Zook,
Essence,
16 June 2025
Noun
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Men’s downhill: Odermatt (605 points) leads countryman Franjo von Allmen by 83 points.—
Rachel Roberts,
Idaho Statesman,
20 Mar. 2025
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Namely, making a downhill defender have to turn on a dime and sprint uphill, backpedaling between wing and prayer.—
Sean Keeler,
The Denver Post,
3 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Descent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descent. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
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