FREE FALL Synonyms: 33 Similar and Opposite Words

free-fall 1 of 2

noun

Definition of free-fall

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

Noun

Hoffman introduced a slide step to speed up his motion to the plate, but even that wasn’t enough to stop the Padres from stealing twice against him earlier this month.

— Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 20 July 2026
Tonight is an excellent opportunity to stop the slide and fatten the season’s profit.

— Josh Shepardson, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026

Definition of slide

Verb

Smoke from wildfires in Canada has poured into the United States, causing air quality to plummet and masking landscapes in a thick, brown haze.

— Dakota Smith, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
Mike Blake | Reuters SpaceX stock has posted losses in nine of the last 10 trading days, and as of Friday's close, had plummeted nearly 23% since the company was added to the Nasdaq-100.

— Sawdah Bhaimiya, CNBC, 17 July 2026

Definition of plummet

Noun

Evans hit another amazing dive to the outside on Theory before tossing Breakker into the timekeepers area.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
There are shallow but rich dives; full-of-life, accessible wrecks; and thriving reefs, including my favorite spot, the unlikely cement plant, with seahorses and octopus reclining beneath its pier pilings—pilings that are fantastical once underwater.

— Jonnie Bayfield, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 July 2026

Definition of dive

Verb

Now an agreement with Washington to formalize Riyadh’s goal, however, has sparked concern that the deal, coupled with the messy aftermath of the war between Washington and Tehran, could plunge the region into a new arms race.

— Tal Shalev, CNN Money, 23 July 2026
Its shares plunged as much as 14% after the markets opened Thursday in New York, the biggest intraday decline since June 2025.

— Bloomberg, Mercury News, 23 July 2026

Definition of plunge

Noun

Angels edge the Tigers Ryan Johnson struck out five and gave up one run in five solid innings, Jorge Soler and Zach Neto delivered RBI hits and the Angels ended a four-game skid with a 3-2 win over the Detroit Tigers on Sunday.

— Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026
Curtis Mead finished with four hits and three RBIs to help Washington (49-49) halt a three-game skid.

— ABC News, ABC News, 18 July 2026

Definition of skid

Verb

In a gloomy prologue, casual conversations between Punjab police officers precipitate equally casual executions by moonlight, under the pretext of curbing terror.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 20 July 2026
Still, no punches thrown from his direction on the way out, beyond the social-media trail that seemingly precipitated the Friday fracas with Adebayo.

— Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 11 July 2026

Definition of precipitate

Verb

Chuanjun warned that heavy rain and extreme weather conditions could put additional areas alongside the mountain near the initial landslide at risk of collapsing.

— Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 19 July 2026
By the time his candidacy collapsed, the time required to mount an effective alternative had largely disappeared.

— Michael Sonnenfeldt, Fortune, 19 July 2026

Definition of collapse

Browse Nearby Words

freedwomen

free-fall

free-falling

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Free-fall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/free-fall. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of free-fall

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

itinerant

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

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

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 24

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Democracy or Republic: What's the difference?

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes