1
as in stumbles
to go down from an upright position suddenly and involuntarily
better sand that walkway before somebody falls on the ice
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in succumbs
to yield to the control or power of enemy forces
the city fell after weeks of merciless bombardment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in plunges
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in decreases
to grow less in scope or intensity especially gradually
manufacturing in the area is falling, and closing signs are going up all over
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in descends
to lead or extend downward
the lake bottom falls sharply just a few feet from the shoreline, so be careful
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in loses
to undergo defeat
not surprisingly, the novice player fell to a much stronger opponent
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in wanders
to commit an offense
even saints can fall
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
8
as in dies
to stop living
if their brave leader falls, the men will lose their courage
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of falls
William Lee, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
Cleaning your oven, however, is something that falls within the former category.
—Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Martha Stewart, 7 Feb. 2026
According to Lindenmeyr, mid-January is Europe’s low season for flights, especially the two-week window that falls after the December holiday season and before the February school break.
—Erik Buckingham, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2026
Slips and falls constitute a leading cause of injuries during the winter weather season.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 6 Feb. 2026
Like anything with that kind of longevity, tiki’s popularity rises and falls like the tides.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 6 Feb. 2026
The task of adding — and removing — sports from the Olympics falls mainly to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 6 Feb. 2026
The plot follows an upper-class widow, Cary Scott (Jane Wyman), who falls for a much younger, down-to-earth, handsome gardener-landscaper, Ron Kirby (Rock Hudson).
—Charlie Vargas, Oc Register, 6 Feb. 2026
The efficacy of pre-treating roads with salt can also be limited by how much wintry precipitation falls.
—Julia James, Dallas Morning News, 6 Feb. 2026
Reuters, NBC news, 4 Feb. 2026
Sprout supports whole-body behaviors, including walking, kneeling, crawling, compliant physical interaction, and recovery from falls, alongside core capabilities such as teleoperation, mapping, navigation, and expressive human–robot interaction primitives.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 28 Jan. 2026
Icy weather brings a serious risk of falls.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 28 Jan. 2026
In addition to falls and accidents, area hospitals have been seeing cold-weather recreational injuries.
—Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 26 Jan. 2026
Chasing after a tennis ball or playing soccer builds agility, balance, coordination and neuromotor control skills that can help prevent future falls and injuries.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 26 Jan. 2026
Some groups are more vulnerable to falls than others.
—Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 26 Jan. 2026
If possible, clear a small area for your pet to use the bathroom to prevent falls.
—Riley Rourke, CBS News, 24 Jan. 2026
As many of us can attest, this slick layer of ice can lead to nasty falls.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
Hypothermia is a condition in which the body’s core temperature falls below 95 degrees.
—William Lee, Chicago Tribune, 7 Feb. 2026
Cleaning your oven, however, is something that falls within the former category.
—Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Martha Stewart, 7 Feb. 2026
According to Lindenmeyr, mid-January is Europe’s low season for flights, especially the two-week window that falls after the December holiday season and before the February school break.
—Erik Buckingham, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2026
Slips and falls constitute a leading cause of injuries during the winter weather season.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 6 Feb. 2026
Like anything with that kind of longevity, tiki’s popularity rises and falls like the tides.
—Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 6 Feb. 2026
The task of adding — and removing — sports from the Olympics falls mainly to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
—Rachel Treisman, NPR, 6 Feb. 2026
The plot follows an upper-class widow, Cary Scott (Jane Wyman), who falls for a much younger, down-to-earth, handsome gardener-landscaper, Ron Kirby (Rock Hudson).
—Charlie Vargas, Oc Register, 6 Feb. 2026
The efficacy of pre-treating roads with salt can also be limited by how much wintry precipitation falls.
—Julia James, Dallas Morning News, 6 Feb. 2026
Noun
The agency did not specify the manner of death, but domestic media have reported falls from rooftops as people tried to clear away massive mounds.
—Reuters, NBC news, 4 Feb. 2026
Sprout supports whole-body behaviors, including walking, kneeling, crawling, compliant physical interaction, and recovery from falls, alongside core capabilities such as teleoperation, mapping, navigation, and expressive human–robot interaction primitives.
—Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 28 Jan. 2026
Icy weather brings a serious risk of falls.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 28 Jan. 2026
In addition to falls and accidents, area hospitals have been seeing cold-weather recreational injuries.
—Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 26 Jan. 2026
Chasing after a tennis ball or playing soccer builds agility, balance, coordination and neuromotor control skills that can help prevent future falls and injuries.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 26 Jan. 2026
Some groups are more vulnerable to falls than others.
—Miriam Fauzia, Dallas Morning News, 26 Jan. 2026
If possible, clear a small area for your pet to use the bathroom to prevent falls.
—Riley Rourke, CBS News, 24 Jan. 2026
As many of us can attest, this slick layer of ice can lead to nasty falls.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 23 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for falls
Verb
-
Repeatedly, the project seems to transcend the projects, defying gravity in its poetic depiction of how this resilient, supportive community comes together around Lil Ant, stepping in where his father stumbles to embrace the boy.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Soon after, Bradley stumbles on Zuri’s body and confronts Linda, resulting in a brutal fight that includes stabbing, scalp ripping, and some really upsetting eye gouging.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Her sexuality is a source of conflict for her family, and the pressure leads to the painful breakup with her girlfriend, Rosie (Jess Gabor), who succumbs to family expectations.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
17 Dec. 2025
-
Live, the band’s cataclysmic volume precludes close observation, and melodic detail succumbs to feedback like dust caught in an exploding star’s stratosphere.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
28 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Wang specializes in balancing tragedy with mirth (see her award-winning film The Farewell), though Expats plunges deeper into grief and darkness.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Jan. 2026
-
How far this arctic air plunges south will determine the scope of a winter storm in the making.—
Kathryn Prociv,
NBC news,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Conductance decreases exponentially as the molecule gets longer, meaning longer molecules carry less current.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
31 Jan. 2026
-
These include older adults (partly because the skin’s ability to synthesize vitamin D decreases with age) and people with certain medical conditions such as celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and other disorders that interfere with the body’s ability to absorb dietary fat.—
Stacey Colino,
Time,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As an Earth-orbiting spacecraft descends, temperatures of up to 3,500°F bloom across the heat shield at the bottom of the capsule.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Pittsburgh will have the 21st pick when a draft that appears to be thin in quality options at quarterback descends on the Steel City in late April.—
SportsDay Staff,
Dallas Morning News,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The 16th century eponymous Danish princess (voiced by Mana Ashida) loses her father, King Amleth (Masachika Ichimura), to a gruesome betrayal.—
Carlos Aguilar,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Software sector loses about 30% of value in three months.—
Jordan Novet,
CNBC,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
When Elizabeth wanders down below and sees the Creature, the two are mesmerized by one another.—
Jenelle Riley,
Variety,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Where is that strange, clueless child who wanders from cause to cause, Greta Thunberg?—
Bobby Zirkin,
Baltimore Sun,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Yoda character always dies, which is really what Elliott is, and then becomes, in some strange way, more powerful after their death.—
Pat Saperstein,
Variety,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Football is the framing device for this romantic fantasy about LA Rams quarterback Joe Pendleton, who wins the starting job, then dies in a traffic accident while biking home (thanks to angelic error).—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Falls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/falls. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
