1
as in dips
the act or process of going to a lower level or altitude
the airplane began its gradual descent to the landing field
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deteriorations
a change to a lower state or level
the nation's rapid descent into anarchy after the revolution
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in demises
a loss of status
for throwing the game, the ballplayer underwent a huge descent in the eyes of the fans
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in incursions
a sudden attack on and entrance into hostile territory
the lightning descent of the invading army on that unsuspecting border town
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in attacks
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in ancestries
the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended
a person of Finnish descent
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7
as in downhills
a downward slope
on bicycle tours the ascents always seem to outnumber the descents
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of descents
The race is on a longer course than the sprints, with two ascents and two descents.
—
Sean Gregory, Time, 28 Jan. 2026
On the one hand, winter brings fresh powder, steep descents, and the chance to traverse beautiful glades.
—Graham Averill, Outside, 16 Jan. 2026
Experienced climbers are more likely to be significantly injured, and of those, a significant amount of accidents occur during descents, according to the Mountain Rescue Association.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 15 Jan. 2026
Set beneath Mont Blanc, Chamonix’s ski areas are spread out and varied, favoring serious vertical, dramatic exposure, and long descents over groomed cruisers.
—Bailey Berg, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Jan. 2026
The mountain biking trails at Rhebokskloof Estatein Paarl are a mix of steep climbs and thrilling descents.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2025
Lusti, as her superhuman friends call her, has racked up more first descents on mountains of consequence than arguably any other other woman in the last 10 years.
—Outside Online, 10 Dec. 2025
Beyond top-notch skiing, Aspen features indoor and outdoor ice skating rinks and a festive four-day Wintersköl event complete with torchlight descents on Aspen Mountain, live music, bonfires, fireworks, and snow sculptures.
—Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 9 Dec. 2025
These in-bounds, hike-to zones offer a backcountry feel with truly hair-raising descents.
—Charles Curkin, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2025
Sean Gregory, Time, 28 Jan. 2026
On the one hand, winter brings fresh powder, steep descents, and the chance to traverse beautiful glades.
—Graham Averill, Outside, 16 Jan. 2026
Experienced climbers are more likely to be significantly injured, and of those, a significant amount of accidents occur during descents, according to the Mountain Rescue Association.
—Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 15 Jan. 2026
Set beneath Mont Blanc, Chamonix’s ski areas are spread out and varied, favoring serious vertical, dramatic exposure, and long descents over groomed cruisers.
—Bailey Berg, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Jan. 2026
The mountain biking trails at Rhebokskloof Estatein Paarl are a mix of steep climbs and thrilling descents.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 31 Dec. 2025
Lusti, as her superhuman friends call her, has racked up more first descents on mountains of consequence than arguably any other other woman in the last 10 years.
—Outside Online, 10 Dec. 2025
Beyond top-notch skiing, Aspen features indoor and outdoor ice skating rinks and a festive four-day Wintersköl event complete with torchlight descents on Aspen Mountain, live music, bonfires, fireworks, and snow sculptures.
—Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 9 Dec. 2025
These in-bounds, hike-to zones offer a backcountry feel with truly hair-raising descents.
—Charles Curkin, Vogue, 27 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descents
Noun
-
Kathryn Neidus, an executive chef at the StoneWater Golf Club in Ohio, told Fox News Digital that people are getting more creative with dips in particular.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
7 Feb. 2026
-
From creamy dips to spicy wings to pigs in a blanket, all of these festive recipes are sure to crowdpleasers.—
Krissy Tiglias,
Southern Living,
6 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
No reason was provided for the shops’ demises.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
26 Nov. 2025
-
The mission, the fourth of 2025, would also be Starship's first flight since May 27 amid a year plagued by explosive demises for the vehicle.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
26 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Others, such as Florida Republican Randy Fine, have cheered the federal incursions into local affairs.—
Mary Ellen Klas,
Twin Cities,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Ground forces, meanwhile, were employed as a blocking force for most of the conflict, preventing Iraqi incursions into Saudi Arabia while airpower systematically dismantled the Iraqi military apparatus and the regime that controlled it.—
David A. Deptula,
Forbes.com,
16 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Though attacks are not so frequent in Islamabad, Pakistan has seen a surge in militant violence in recent months, largely blamed on Baloch separatist groups and the Pakistani Taliban, known as Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, which is a separate group, but allied with Afghanistan's Taliban.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Feb. 2026
-
The overnight attacks follow a recent lull in strikes on energy infrastructure by both sides, which was proposed by the US.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
But many Chicanos trace their lineage to indigenous peoples who survived Spanish colonization, often carrying mixed indigenous, Spanish, and other ancestries, a testament to survival and cultural fusion.—
David Alvarado,
Time,
15 Dec. 2025
-
This lack of representation is problematic for people of different ancestries because genetic risk factors differ across populations.—
Rachel Nuwer,
Scientific American,
14 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The prospect of Shiffrin pairing with Lindsey Vonn, who’s excelled in the downhills this season, to fight for USA gold surely has NBC execs salivating.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
29 Jan. 2026
-
It's claimed to still handle short downhills well and provide a good glide on flat surfaces.—
Maryna Holovnova,
New Atlas,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Sharp drops hit Wall Street on Thursday as technology stocks fell and bitcoin plunged again to roughly half its record price set last fall.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Kidder says if scent is the goal, then a few drops of essential oil mixed into baking soda works well.—
Ashlyn Needham,
The Spruce,
5 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Grave of the Fireflies is about the horrors and degradations of war.—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
-
For Parisian Jews in 1941 and 1942, these thefts were compounded by a cascade of other degradations, including the loss of distinguished positions at the Sorbonne, in banking, science, and medicine, with more devastation to come.—
Christopher C. Gorham
September 29,
Literary Hub,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Descents.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descents. Accessed 8 Feb. 2026.
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