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
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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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The drop will go live Tuesday (June 17) at liquiddeath.com/ozzy, with each DNA can priced at $450.—
Jessica Lynch,
Billboard,
18 June 2025
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Currently, Fancy Teddy is sold directly direct-to-consumer with just seven limited drops released.—
Alexandra Pastore,
Footwear News,
18 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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This natural degradation in data characteristics means an AI that once performed well might start making errors as its environment evolves.—
Ronen Cojocaru,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
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Despite the degradation of its military capabilities, Iran can leverage proxies, criminal organizations abroad, and cyberattacks to hit Israeli, and possibly U.S., targets.—
Nakissa Jahanbani,
The Conversation,
20 June 2025
Noun
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And the company’s legal battle with Albertsons over the demise of the merger deal is ongoing.—
Melissa Repko,
CNBC,
20 June 2025
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The urgency of the warnings comes as Russia faces losing another regional ally if the regime in Iran falls, only months after the demise of the Assad regime in Syria.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 June 2025
Noun
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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
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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
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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Regional authorities in Lviv, which borders Poland, reported attacks on critical infrastructure but no casualties.—
Ellie Cook,
MSNBC Newsweek,
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 2 Jul. 2025.
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