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
At that point, the sub had reached a depth of about 3,300 meters and was about 90 minutes into its descent to the ocean floor to give passengers on board an up-close view of the Titanic.
—
Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 23 May 2025
The waist belt itself is next-level in comfort and adjustability, thanks to its venting (which includes a mesh cover across the back pads to increase airflow) for the ups, as well as extra cinching for singletrack descents.
—Nikki Rohan, Outside Online, 23 May 2025
For perhaps not so selfless reasons of his own, her rival, Peter Murdoch, is also making the descent.
—Shannon Carlin, Time, 22 May 2025
Sam Morelos On Their Filipino Heritage And All The Philippine Elements In Summer Of 69
Like Morelos, Abby Flores is of Filipino descent, but the character wasn’t originally written that way in the script.
—Regina Kim, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for descent
Issy Ronald, CNN Money, 23 May 2025
The waist belt itself is next-level in comfort and adjustability, thanks to its venting (which includes a mesh cover across the back pads to increase airflow) for the ups, as well as extra cinching for singletrack descents.
—Nikki Rohan, Outside Online, 23 May 2025
For perhaps not so selfless reasons of his own, her rival, Peter Murdoch, is also making the descent.
—Shannon Carlin, Time, 22 May 2025
Sam Morelos On Their Filipino Heritage And All The Philippine Elements In Summer Of 69
Like Morelos, Abby Flores is of Filipino descent, but the character wasn’t originally written that way in the script.
—Regina Kim, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for descent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descent
Noun
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This year’s increase would compare with a 0.4% rise in 2024 following drops of 7% and nearly 15% in 2023 and 2022, respectively, from inflated prices during the Covid-19 pandemic.—
Michael Wayland,
CNBC,
6 June 2025
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The full-length leads during a packed frame of exciting new releases, as this Friday (June 6), includes drops from stars across genres — but none of them can quite compete with Wayne at the moment.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Noun
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They are then transported to the Berkhamsted conservation center, where their condition is examined for deterioration.—
Benny Har-Even,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
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Nationwide, the ramifications of deportation for these key citizens will affect all of us, which can lead to deterioration of our healthcare system, hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, home health aides, etc.—
Rachel Blumberg,
Sun Sentinel,
3 June 2025
Noun
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These trade shifts are causing environmental degradation.—
Simi Thambi,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
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Violence, corruption and environmental degradation have saturated the avocado trade there, causing the U.S. to briefly stop imports and senators to agitate for action by the federal government.—
Daniel Miller,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2025
Noun
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While some may still resist the demise of relatable Season 1 Shauna, both Lynskey and Nélisse relish the chance to explore her descent further as Showtime’s just renewed the series for Season 4.—
Hunter Ingram,
Variety,
27 May 2025
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Republicans might also remember that the 1798 restrictions on free speech/press played an important role in the election of President Jefferson and the effective demise of the Federalist Party.—
John A. Ragosta,
Baltimore Sun,
27 May 2025
Noun
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The previous talks on May 16 in the same Turkish city were the first direct peace negotiations since the early weeks of Moscow's 2022 invasion.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
3 June 2025
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The previous talks on May 16 in the same Turkish city were the first direct peace negotiations since the early weeks of Moscow’s 2022 invasion.—
Mehmet Guzel,
Chicago Tribune,
2 June 2025
Noun
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Try supplements: Certain supplements, such as Riboflavin and CoQ10, can help reduce the frequency and severity of attacks.—
Verywell Health,
Verywell Health,
6 June 2025
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The decision came just days after an Egyptian man in Colorado was arrested and charged with carrying out an attack on a group honoring hostages being held in Gaza.—
Hamed Aleaziz,
New York Times,
5 June 2025
Noun
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For those without ancestry, the following nations offer quicker or simpler paths via residency.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 May 2025
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Another approach, the phylogenetic species concept, emphasizes ancestry instead of breeding.—
Elay Shech,
The Conversation,
30 May 2025
Noun
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Best Things to Do Check out the world's longest downhill ski race.—
Noelle Salmi,
Travel + Leisure,
19 May 2025
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These workhorse muscles keep your knees aligned and stable, especially on downhills and uneven terrain, and play a key role in helping to support your pack weight.—
Adam Roy,
Outside Online,
9 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Descent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descent. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.
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