1
as in stumbling
to go down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily
better sand that walkway before somebody falls on the ice
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in succumbing
to yield to the control or power of enemy forces
the city fell after weeks of merciless bombardment
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3
as in plunging
to go to a lower level especially abruptly
word soon got out that the movie was no good, and box-office receipts fell like a rock
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4
as in decreasing
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually
manufacturing in the area is falling, and closing signs are going up all over
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5
as in descending
to lead or extend downward
the lake bottom falls sharply just a few feet from the shoreline, so be careful
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6
as in losing
to undergo defeat
not surprisingly, the novice player fell to a much stronger opponent
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7
as in wandering
to commit an offense
even saints can fall
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8
as in dying
to stop living
if their brave leader falls, the men will lose their courage
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as in dangling
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Dissimilar Words
as in weakening
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of falling
W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 4 Sep. 2025
But Chip started to have health problems and also had a falling out with administration.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2025
Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Borrowers aged 18 to 29 are also falling 90 or more days late on auto loans faster than older borrowers.
—Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
China’s falling consumer prices deepen deflation fears New data in China intensified fears of deepening deflation in the world’s second-biggest economy.
—Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Other big stories ➤ The median rent on a one-bedroom Phoenix-area apartment is falling after the region led the nation in price increases in 2021.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Since bond yields move inversely to prices, a rise in yields signals falling bond prices.
—CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025
There are certainly a few autumnal signs, a falling leaf carried on the breeze here and there, if past AI winters are any guide.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2025
Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacramento Bee, 25 Mar. 2025
That was after falling less than 13,000 fans short of 3 million in 2022.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2025
Adjective
The two men became friends, or at least acquaintances, in the late 1980s and had a falling out in 2004.
—W. James Antle Iii, The Washington Examiner, 4 Sep. 2025
But Chip started to have health problems and also had a falling out with administration.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2025
Noun
This can be something forceful falling or pressing on the toe or twisting it in an awkward manner.
—Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Borrowers aged 18 to 29 are also falling 90 or more days late on auto loans faster than older borrowers.
—Betty Lin-Fisher, USA Today, 11 Sep. 2025
China’s falling consumer prices deepen deflation fears New data in China intensified fears of deepening deflation in the world’s second-biggest economy.
—Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Other big stories ➤ The median rent on a one-bedroom Phoenix-area apartment is falling after the region led the nation in price increases in 2021.
—Lorenzino Estrada, AZCentral.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Since bond yields move inversely to prices, a rise in yields signals falling bond prices.
—CNBC, 3 Sep. 2025
There are certainly a few autumnal signs, a falling leaf carried on the breeze here and there, if past AI winters are any guide.
—Jeremy Kahn, Fortune, 3 Sep. 2025
Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacramento Bee, 25 Mar. 2025
That was after falling less than 13,000 fans short of 3 million in 2022.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for falling
Verb
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The episode ends with a surreal, graphic deepfake scene of a totally nude Donald Trump stumbling around a desert.—
Nick Marx,
The Conversation,
11 Sep. 2025
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Inside the agency, Dudek, ill-prepared for leadership or for DOGE’s murky agenda, was stumbling through the chaos in part by creating some of his own.—
Eli Hager,
ProPublica,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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In late July, Kwame’s brother, Jabari, was also euthanized after succumbing to arthritis.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
5 Sep. 2025
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The Californian took the first set against Ekaterina Alexandrova at last year’s tournament and had her vastly more experienced Russian opponent on the ropes on several occasions before eventually succumbing.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The pair dressed up to the nines for the occasion, with Sperry, 32, wearing an elegant light pink Monique Lhuillier gown with a low-plunging back that draped to the floor and pooled around her feet.—
Ashlyn Robinette,
People.com,
11 Sep. 2025
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But 26% also said plunging demand in the wake of Trump’s policies caused cancellations, with 16% specifically citing tariffs.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Coaxing summer-flowering annuals to flower in fall is hit and miss as nutrient availability is dwindling and hours of daylight are decreasing.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Sep. 2025
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The central bank is expected to start decreasing rates at its meeting next week after being on pause since December.—
Michelle Fox,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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More than 2,200 elite track and field athletes are descending on Tokyo for the upcoming world championships, but Cooper Lutkenhaus might be the only one to pack homework.—
George Ramsay,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
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Some lava tubes that wrap across the surface of the Red Planet could make perfect protective shells to position prefabricated human habitats transported aboard the massive Starship capsules that are now counting down to descending on Mars.—
Kevin Holden Platt,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The 74-year-old François Bayrou resigns on Tuesday after choosing to gamble his political survival on a confidence vote a day earlier—and losing it by a huge margin.—
Cole Stangler,
Time,
9 Sep. 2025
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Since then, Cracker Barrel has become a cookie-cutter corporate chain, steadily losing its Southern flavor.—
Bud Kennedy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The three of them, dressed in flip-flops and T-shirts, were wandering the streets downtown when a woman in a minivan pulled over to offer them a ride.—
Jonathan Blitzer,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
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The strangers spend the day wandering down the movie's eponymous street while a vibrant chemistry blossoms between them.—
Hannah Kerns,
PEOPLE,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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She was intubated for nearly a week while medical staff at Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola worked to save her, including repeatedly scrubbing and cleaning out her leg to remove any dying tissue.—
Mollye Barrows,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
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Mason confirmed that Kirk was shot and taken to a hospital in a private vehicle before dying.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Falling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/falling. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
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