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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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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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of descent
The Parisian designer of Somali-Ethiopian descent became the youngest-ever head of a French house at the age of 25.
—
Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 19 Sep. 2025
The actor's casting, which was announced back in July, has been met with criticism from members of the Asian-American community, who have argued that Maybe Happy Ending's cast is intended to be made up of actors of Asian descent.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2025
El Salvador’s cumbia group Los Hermanos Flores will also take the stage, along with a slate of DJs of Latino descent — including Gordo, RØZ, Zulan, Mochakk, Jessica Brankka, and Ape Drums of Major Lazer — to round out the roster.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 18 Sep. 2025
Feldman has taken over the lead role from Tony winner and original actor Darren Criss, who is of Filipino descent, while Wu and others have said the role should have gone to a member of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for descent
Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 19 Sep. 2025
The actor's casting, which was announced back in July, has been met with criticism from members of the Asian-American community, who have argued that Maybe Happy Ending's cast is intended to be made up of actors of Asian descent.
—Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 18 Sep. 2025
El Salvador’s cumbia group Los Hermanos Flores will also take the stage, along with a slate of DJs of Latino descent — including Gordo, RØZ, Zulan, Mochakk, Jessica Brankka, and Ape Drums of Major Lazer — to round out the roster.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 18 Sep. 2025
Feldman has taken over the lead role from Tony winner and original actor Darren Criss, who is of Filipino descent, while Wu and others have said the role should have gone to a member of the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.
—Jordan Moreau, Variety, 17 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for descent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descent
Noun
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The Dorsey Moissanite collection is here, and with Vogue First, Vogue Shopping readers get exclusive access to shop the new drop before anyone else for 24 hours.—
Cortne Bonilla,
Vogue,
25 Sep. 2025
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In an exclusive conversation with Travel + Leisure, Kardashian spilled all the details about her latest Fabletics drop, her go-to airport uniform, and the clever packing tricks that make back-to-back trips feel seamless.—
Annita Katee,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Presbyopia is the gradual deterioration of your eyes' ability to focus on close objects.—
Janet Loehrke,
USA Today,
23 Sep. 2025
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Three others who died after release due to health deterioration caused by prison conditions.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The one for the reel on which de Sanctis was working, for instance, told a sad story of degradation.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
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According to the lead researcher Ernestine Lonpi Tipi, that period coincided with drought and the gradual degradation of forests, and subsequent scarcity of bushmeat.—
Emmet Livingstone,
NPR,
20 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Michelle Yeoh and Jeff Goldblum return for the follow-up and are seen in the trailer as Madame Morrible and the Wizard, respectively, plotting Elphaba’s demise.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Sep. 2025
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People have often tried to predict the end of the world, and while rumors of its imminent demise have been exaggerated, the viral video by Mhlakela and mixed social media reaction to it show the intrigue that the belief retains.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Sep. 2025
Noun
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They are engaged in indirect conflict over Ukraine, whose defense against the ongoing Russian invasion NATO is supporting with materiel and training.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
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As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine nears its fourth anniversary, a few of Fedorov’s allies have suggested expanding the bonus program in disturbing ways.—
Simon Shuster,
Time,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The attack came two weeks after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated at a university in Utah.—
Anna Giaritelli,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Sep. 2025
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Poor weather and battlefield obscurants continue to endanger warfighters as adversaries rely on these conditions to escape attacks.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The study also showed that today’s dogs carry ancestry from multiple wolf populations and not just one.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
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Embark's DNA tests screens for more than 400 breeds of dog, including wild animals such as dingoes, coyotes, wolves and village dogs, helping owners of mixed breeds understand their pet's ancestry.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Poore’s business transports mountain bikers to various points along the Blue Ridge Parkway for downhill adventures along the Appalachian Mountains across western North Carolina.—
Graham Hurley,
CNN Money,
21 Sep. 2025
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Gateway is designed for hammering fast laps, with a gravel road climbing to the top of a ridge that provides access to the downhill singletrack.—
Graham Averill,
Outside,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Descent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descent. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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