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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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

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 plunge
Verb
Hewitt could be seen wearing a plunging white halterneck dress covered in black polka dots while dancing and singing along at the show. — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 19 Aug. 2026 The 2005 changes caused the number of personal bankruptcies to plunge. — Jay L. Zagorsky, The Conversation, 19 Aug. 2026
Noun
Continue reading … ‘GODSEND’ — Former Chicago detective says one city's murder plunge offers Windy City crime blueprint. — FOXNews.com, 13 Aug. 2026 Its collection of 23 villas come with private plunge pools and butler service, as well as expansive indoor-outdoor living spaces with views ranging from the rainforest to the Caribbean. — Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 13 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
  • Raleigh dropped the ball, and Bauers dived back to the plate.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Mysterio tried to dive back into the ring with a springboard, but Gable countered with a fisherman’s suplex in midair for a pinfall attempt.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
Definition of dive
Verb
  • And yet, Lucas and Scott aren’t afraid of occasionally dipping into not just realistic problems, but heavier ones, too.
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 20 Aug. 2026
  • As the sun dips behind the canyon walls, the desert cools down rapidly, creating another window to head back out for a dusky hike.
    — Jamie Siebrase, Denver Post, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of dip
Verb
  • When night falls, another show begins with a dedicated corner of the estate designed for stargazing.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Zinc ions enter the electrode first at higher voltages, while much smaller protons are stored later as the voltage falls.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of fall
Noun
  • Unlike other meat products, the cost of chicken has seen little fluctuation in recent months, so much so that July’s 3-cent drop signaled the single biggest monthly change dating back to November 2024.
    — Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The critic who found a helpful narrative to understand the history, and future, of our images, without a drop of cynicism.
    — Carlos Valladares, ARTnews.com, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of drop
Verb
  • Front load washers are built with a horizontal drum that tumbles the clothes in each cycle.
    — Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 14 Aug. 2026
  • In spite of a brief reprieve from higher gas prices in June, Walmart shares have tumbled 13% in the last three months.
    — Sarah Min, CNBC, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of tumble
Verb
  • Fully unrolled, the canvas was the size of the cargo container, looking like a dust storm descending over a desert town.
    — Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • No other spacecraft has ever descended into the moon’s shadowy south polar craters, although NASA did crash a rocket into one in 2009 and watched a resultant plume of water vapor burst out.
    — Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of descend
Noun
  • In the second decade of the twentieth century—a period that became known as la Matanza—the killing of residents of Mexican descent was commonplace along the United States’ southern border.
    — Stephania Taladrid, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Trump and his allies have used the scheme to target Walz’s Democratic administration and the state’s Somali community, as some of the defendants are of Somali descent.
    — Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of descent
Verb
  • Watts declined Rolling Stone’s multiple requests for an interview and did not specifically address a majority of questions posed to him in a detailed request for comment.
    — Cheyenne Roundtree, Rolling Stone, 20 Aug. 2026
  • When first baseman Triston Casas suffered a season-ending injury in May, Devers declined to learn the position despite Boston’s dearth of options.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of decline

Browse Nearby Words

plunders
plunge
plunged
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Plunge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plunge. Accessed 22 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on plunge

Nglish: Translation of plunge for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about plunge

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of august

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'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?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
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
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All