plunge 1 of 2

verb

ˈplənj How to pronounce plunge (audio)
Definition of plungenext
1
as in to dive
to cast oneself head first into deep water she took a deep breath and plunged from the side of the pool

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2
as in to dip
to go to a lower level especially abruptly prices for those televisions have really plunged since they were first introduced

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3
as in to fall
to lead or extend downward a stairway plunging into darkness

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

plunge

2 of 2

noun

1
as in dive
an act or instance of diving the Olympic diver took a well-executed plunge off the diving board

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2
as in drop
the act or process of going to a lower level or altitude an overnight plunge in temperature sent the thermometer to below the freezing mark

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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 plunge
Verb
Nestled on slide four was a flick of Hawn doing her little dancey dance while clad in a black one-piece swimsuit that featured a silver gem-studded plunging neckline. — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 4 Aug. 2026 As of Tuesday morning, shares in SpaceX had plunged nearly 50% in value below a peak attained on June 16 in the frenzied aftermath of its IPO, which was the largest in history. — Max Zahn, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026
Noun
However, a couples’ massage cabin is in the works, as well as a wellness area with outdoor saunas, hot tubs, and cold plunge pools. — Madeline Bilis, Travel + Leisure, 4 Aug. 2026 La Casa de la Playa is a rare resort where staying in can be every bit as rewarding as heading out, and where an afternoon spent by your plunge pool may become the highlight of your trip. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for plunge
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plunge
  1. dive
  2. dip
  3. fall
  4. drop
  5. tumble
  6. descend
  7. descent
  8. decline
Verb
  • Novice freedivers can usually learn to hold their breath for over two minutes and descend to over 20 meters while professional freedivers can dive well deeper than 100 meters and hold their breath for well over 10 minutes.
    — Bill Springer, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • In 2025, Mariska dove deep into her mother’s life in her documentary, My Mom Jayne.
    — Giovana Gelhoren, InStyle, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of dive
Verb
  • Ryan Gravenberch and Alexis Mac Allister both dipped in physicality last season, leading to Liverpool’s back four suffering from a lack of protection at points.
    — Graham Ruthven, New York Times, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Berry posed near the shoreline in an animal-print cover-up layered over a black lace lingerie bodysuit as the sun dipped toward the ocean.
    — Danielle Minnetian, FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of dip
Verb
  • For years, the FDA has fallen far short on meeting its modest annual goals for foreign food facility inspections, the US Government Accountability Office has found, as the agency struggled to hire and train inspectors.
    — Yahya Abou-Ghazala, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
  • On Monday, an 18-year-old was seriously injured after falling onto an elevated platform.
    — Ubah Ali, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of fall
Noun
  • The goal is of course, to get more long-term LA Metro riders, but also by reducing cars on the road, traffic flow improves and vehicle emissions drop, said LA Metro.
    — Steve Scauzillo, Daily News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Nonfarm payrolls unexpectedly declined in July, falling by 23,000 amid a drop of 53,000 government jobs.
    — Oliver Renick, CNBC, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of drop
Verb
  • Oil prices tumbled at the start of the week on optimism that a deal to reopen the strait could be imminent.
    — Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
  • White, the former Illinois secretary of state, is on the Snowballs’ advisory board, and Emmanuel McGhee, the tumbling team’s head coach, is also a coach for the Snowballs.
    — Chris Placek, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of tumble
Verb
  • The friends eventually grew bored and went back to their cocktails, but the rest of the viewers continued watching as the dancer descended the museum’s outdoor staircase and linked up with four others below.
    — Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Midnight Madness also has a first look for Kick On, an action horror thriller from Nick Kozakis, and about a night of partying by four friends descending into a spiral of paranoia, violence and betrayals.
    — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of descend
Noun
  • The Italian supreme court’s abolition of 2024 restrictions on citizenship by descent means American families who’d been torn apart by the new legislation can now be reunited.
    — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026
  • In the guest book, in 2024, a guest creatively wrote a six-entry (three days and three nights) account of their stay there, a descent into madness at the hands of the structure’s steady creaking and the sounds of twigs snapping in the woods below.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2026
Definition of descent
Verb
  • The Center for Strategic and International Studies, a Washington think tank, has released reports on declining inventories based on budget documents and other public information.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Nike had the option to match the adidas offer and declined, making way for the three-stripe era.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of decline

Browse Nearby Words

plunders
plunge
plunged
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Cite this Entry

“Plunge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plunge. Accessed 10 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on plunge

Nglish: Translation of plunge for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about plunge

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