free-fall 1 of 2

noun

Definition of free-fallnext
as in slide

Related Words

Relevance

free-fall

2 of 2

verb

as in to plummet

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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 free-fall
Noun
The film, in which Powell plays a country-western star in free-fall, has been set for release on February 5, 2027. — Justin Kroll, Deadline, 20 Mar. 2026 While the crypto free-fall seems to have paused, the extreme price swings remain. — Joe Wilkins Published Mar 18, Futurism, 18 Mar. 2026 Late last year, Saudi Arabia's Six Flags Qiddiya City opened the world's longest, tallest, and fastest roller coaster, opened the world’s tallest free-fall ride, and opened the world’s tallest pendulum ride. — Kristine Hansen, Travel + Leisure, 25 Feb. 2026 Corbet’s starts with a near-vertical free-fall for 10 to 20 feet, depending on the snowpack, before the run opens to a narrow, rocky chute. — Owen Clarke, Outside, 30 Jan. 2026 Each has only lasted two games, so this isn’t a free-fall. — Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 26 Jan. 2026 In addition to featuring the same hybrid rollercoaster and water slide that can be found on the Prima Plus-class Norwegian Aqua, Luna will have a 10-deck free-fall slide called The Drop and a top-deck sports and outdoor gaming space called The Stadium. — Patrick Connolly, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Jan. 2026 The timepiece endured low pressure and temperature and a free-fall speed of 821 mph, above the sound barrier. — Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for free-fall
  1. slide
  2. plummet
  3. dive
  4. plunge
  5. skid
  6. precipitate
  7. tumble
  8. collapse
Noun
  • In many ways, this was the end of Dylan’s own rock’n’roll era, the start of his slide into Christian rock and dangly earrings and folk covers and a consensus that his vital work was now permanently behind him.
    — Grayson Haver Currin, Pitchfork, 7 Nov. 2026
  • There's even steps set up like a faux funicular that lead to a mezzanine games room and slide.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of slide
Verb
  • The embarrassing news sent shares of the AI chipmaker — a bellwether for an economy overindexed on AI — plummeting, with one analyst estimating that parting ways with Huang could wipe out almost 30 percent of the company’s value.
    — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 10 Nov. 2026
  • Less than 30 seconds later, something went wrong and the plane plummeted.
    — Taylor Romine, CNN Money, 9 Nov. 2026
Definition of plummet
Noun
  • At a lively Halloween party at Kito’s Kave, a local dive, a patron poked fun at the surge of interest by dressing up as an FBI agent.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Bayley ran full speed through the middle ropes and hit a suicide dive onto Valkyria, who caught Bayley.
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 27 Oct. 2026
Definition of dive
Verb
  • Video recorded by people inside their cars captured the terrifying moment the aircraft plunged from the sky, before striking near the roadway and exploding.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Oil prices, sent rocketing by Iran's blockade of the Strait of Hormuz energy corridor, plunged by more than 7% on Monday on optimism over a possible end to the eight-month-old conflict.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of plunge
Noun
  • Sidney Crosby scored two goals while moving into sole possession of sixth place on the NHL's career scoring list, and the Pittsburgh Penguins snapped their four-game skid with a 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Sidney Crosby scored two goals while moving into sole possession of sixth place on the NHL’s career scoring list, and the Pittsburgh Penguins snapped their four-game skid with a 5-2 victory over the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday night.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Nov. 2026
Definition of skid
Verb
  • Its sale process was precipitated after files related to Jeffrey Epstein revealed flirtatious emails Wasserman sent in the early 2000s to close Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell.
    — Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 10 Nov. 2026
  • The agency has become controversial over aggressive immigration enforcement tactics that precipitated a government shutdown earlier this year.
    — David Sivak, The Washington Examiner, 28 Oct. 2026
Definition of precipitate
Noun
  • This year the struggles continued, including a 30% tumble in a single day this August after Dick’s cut its EPS forecast for the year because of the sales underperformance by Foot Locker stores.
    — Stephanie Link, CNBC, 11 Nov. 2026
  • However, a careful examination is needed of the storylines behind Nasdaq tumbles over the past half-century and how housing reacted.
    — Jonathan Lansner, Oc Register, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of tumble
Verb
  • In one of the videos, a policeman is seen repeatedly shooting the attacker, who is lying on the street, only to later slowly collapse himself to the ground.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2026
  • Satellite imagery shows that in Caraballeda, 63% of all high-rise towers built by a special public housing authority collapsed.
    — Avery Schmitz, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of collapse

Browse Nearby Words

freedwomen
free-fall
free-falling
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Free-fall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/free-fall. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gauntlet

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

31 Useful Rhetorical Devices

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Nov. 13

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Great Big List of Beautiful and Useless Words, Vol. 5

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
woman sitting on floor holding book in front of her face on pink background
Famous Novels, Last Lines Quiz Needless to say, spoiler alert.
See All