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 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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of descent
Besides a steep descent from the parking lot into the canyon, the route is mostly flat.
—
Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Texans of Asian and Native American descent rank near the national average.
—Chris Tomlinson, Houston Chronicle, 7 May 2026
After a nearly 2,000-foot ascent and descent, I was met with a coconut welcome drink, followed by a decadent Bhutanese spread of momos, ema datshi (chili and cheese), red rice, pork with chilies, and seasonal vegetables.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2026
The physician Louis Westenra Sambon, a British doctor of Italian descent, developed a fabric woven with specific colors and fibers to reflect some of the sun’s radiation and reduce risks from prolonged exposure to intense sunlight.
—Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for descent
Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 7 May 2026
Texans of Asian and Native American descent rank near the national average.
—Chris Tomlinson, Houston Chronicle, 7 May 2026
After a nearly 2,000-foot ascent and descent, I was met with a coconut welcome drink, followed by a decadent Bhutanese spread of momos, ema datshi (chili and cheese), red rice, pork with chilies, and seasonal vegetables.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2026
The physician Louis Westenra Sambon, a British doctor of Italian descent, developed a fabric woven with specific colors and fibers to reflect some of the sun’s radiation and reduce risks from prolonged exposure to intense sunlight.
—Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for descent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descent
Noun
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Then, put your ballot into a mailbox or secure drop box, or deliver it to a voting center or county elections office.—
Abby Hamblin,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
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Two aviation courses are expected to take place, including water drops, passenger loading, cargo handling and refining communications, according to a release.—
Corey Schmidt,
Sacbee.com,
7 May 2026
Noun
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The aim wasn’t a knockout, but the gradual deterioration of San Antonio.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
5 May 2026
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Mayor Gloria’s egregious record of reckless spending has contributed to the steady deterioration of our city’s fiscal and civic health.—
U T Readers,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 May 2026
Noun
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The move was widely seen as an effort to reassure consumers that ultra-fast charging technology would not result in excessive long-term battery degradation.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
10 May 2026
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But experts believe environmental degradation caused by climate change and human activity is contributing to its spread by allowing the rodents that transmit the virus to thrive in new areas.—
Gonzalo Zegarra,
CNN Money,
9 May 2026
Noun
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Since Gateway’s demise, Northrop has been positioning the HALO module as an option for a surface habitat, and Europe may also suggest that I-HAB be used on the surface as well.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
27 Apr. 2026
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Perhaps the owner’s unexpected absence was an indication that the rumors about my imminent demise were wrong and that things were not so certain.—
Saïd Sayrafiezadeh,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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In 2022, when gas prices surged to a similar level because of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, then-President Joe Biden requested a monthslong federal gas tax holiday from Congress.—
Emily Chang,
ABC News,
11 May 2026
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But more than four years after launching an all-out invasion of Ukraine, the Russian president synonymous with Moscow’s kleptocratic rule finds himself in unfamiliar territory.—
Rafi Schwartz,
TheWeek,
11 May 2026
Noun
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Brown is expected to face multiple charges, including two counts of armed assault with intent to murder, along with weapons offenses.—
Greg Wehner,
FOXNews.com,
12 May 2026
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After being medically cleared at a hospital, Villalobos-Espinoza was booked into the Sonoma County Jail on suspicion of vehicle theft, felony evading, assault with a deadly weapon on a peace officer and an enhancement for prior theft convictions.—
Tim Fang,
CBS News,
11 May 2026
Noun
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In this collection of personal essays, keim explores estrangement from family in parallel to estrangement from land and ancestry.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
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Cantens, who is American of Cuban ancestry, is fluent in English and Spanish.—
Walter Villa,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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Johnson, Shiffrin’s partner and the gold medalist in the downhill, had staked her to a narrow lead.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
21 Apr. 2026
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His excellent size-speed combination, and aggressive downhill style creates disruption and turnover chances.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Descent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descent. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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