free-fall 1 of 2

noun

Definition of free-fallnext
as in slide

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free-fall

2 of 2

verb

as in to plummet

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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
  • By the time Simon helped with the redecoration, her dad had settled into another chapter of life, selling arcade games and raising his family, and leaving the traces of his former career stored in a large collection of Kodachrome slides.
    — Emily Witt, New Yorker, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The slide-out kitchen is standard, but the pop-up roof is optional.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of slide
Verb
  • But alas, eventually all involved have to get down to business and actually contend with the plot beats of Hoover’s story, which is when the movie careens off a cliff, plummeting past so-bad-it’s-good and crashing on the rocks of agonizingly dumb.
    — Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026
  • The suspect allegedly plummeted the plane in an attempt to crash it and kill everyone aboard, Israeli investigators said.
    — Anna Burd, ABC News, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of plummet
Noun
  • But that’s a minor trade-off to hear a great soprano dive into a great dramatic role.
    — Justin Davidson, Vulture, 23 Sep. 2026
  • That included Mahomes’ touchdown run that was capped by a dive into the end zone.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of dive
Verb
  • Aries Rising This month’s astrology is plunging you into a bit of a grief process.
    — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Sep. 2026
  • The Starship spacecraft is now plunging back into the thick inner part of Earth’s atmosphere while still traveling thousands of miles per hour.
    — Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of plunge
Noun
  • Joe Mack and Griffin Conine homered for the Marlins, who snapped a six-game losing skid against the NL East champion Braves.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Cypress Creek ended the state’s longest winless streak in a big way, shutting out Lake Buena Vista 32-0 to stop the Bears’ skid at 35 consecutive losses.
    — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of skid
Verb
  • The announcement ruffled feathers, precipitating a unique form of drama.
    — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Its aesthetic is that of revealing, in which one scene leads to another and then to another, each precipitated on what has come before.
    — David L. Ulin, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of precipitate
Noun
  • If the tag recommends dry cleaning, washing in cold water in the washing machine, or tumble-drying on medium heat in the dryer, follow those instructions to avoid fading, shrinking, tearing, or otherwise compromising your duvet.
    — Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Some drives are rated as drop-proof (HDDs are more vulnerable to tumbles than SSDs), shock-proof, or crush-proof; an ingress protection (IP) rating denotes protection from dust, dirt, and water.
    — George Yang, PC Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of tumble
Verb
  • Four American tourists died on Friday after a building collapsed due to a gas explosion in Athens, Greece, in a neighborhood near the Acropolis.
    — Carter Schroppe, The Washington Examiner, 27 Sep. 2026
  • The possibility -- even likelihood -- of some rickety old thing collapsing under me never occurred to me.
    — Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 27 Sep. 2026
Definition of collapse

Browse Nearby Words

freedwomen
free-fall
free-falling
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Cite this Entry

“Free-fall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/free-fall. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

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