PLUNGE Synonyms: 113 Similar and Opposite Words

plunge 1 of 2

verb

ˈplənj

Definition of plunge

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

surface

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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

jump
leap

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

Crude oil traffic through the key Strait of Hormuz has plunged, and Iran has refused to reopen the waterway. — Jeffrey Collins, Fortune, 7 Sep. 2026 Demand for oil plunged during the war — much more than oil industry analysts had expected — proving that the world is much more flexible about its oil usage than previously believed. — David Goldman, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026

Noun

Cold plunge at 5, journaling by 6, inbox zero before most people have had breakfast. — Jonathan Weeks, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026 The more exotic and dangerous plunges happen from the adjacent cliffs, with youngsters jumping from 20 to 40 feet, and some as much as 50 feet. — Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for plunge

Recent Examples of Synonyms for plunge

Verb

Clark is a baseball junkie who loves to dive into all these details.

— Cody Stavenhagen, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Late in the first quarter with the score tied at 3-3, Flanigan took a short pass from quarterback CJ Carr and dived 3 yards across the goal line for a touchdown.

— Colleen Kane, Chicago Tribune, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of dive

Verb

The key to why scores are falling so widely may be found in an accompanying survey taken by students.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2026
Volatility tends to ease in November, with the VIX falling around 4% as the midterm results remove a key political overhang and provide investors with greater clarity on the policy backdrop, said James Ooi, market strategist at Tiger Brokers.

— Joanna Ossinger,Justina Lee, CNBC, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of fall

Noun

The head coach lauded improvements from the offensive line, said the running game got better in the second half and refused to throw receiver Romeo Doubs under the bus, noting that drops sometimes happen.

— Chad Graff, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Diamond drop earrings and rings, and a long crescent moon necklace, draped directly against her décolletage and plunging neckline.

— Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of drop

Verb

The primary suite has dual walk-in closets, a soaking tub surrounded by 10-foot tumbled travertine stone walls, a steam shower, dry sauna and private fitness area.

— David Caraccio, Sacbee.com, 5 Sep. 2026
Lululemon Athletica — Shares of the sportswear manufacturer tumbled 20% after the company posted a glum forecast for the current quarter.

— Michelle Fox, CNBC, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of tumble

Verb

The few looks to descend the runway were in a muted neutral color palette featuring dove gray, soft browns and black leather tones.

— Morgan Evans, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
United Airlines Flight 175, another Boeing 767 aircraft, which departed from Boston, was descending and heading for New York City.

— Alexandra Skores, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of descend

Noun

Today, 55% of the city's residents have Middle Eastern ancestry, and the mayor, police chief, and schools superintendent are all Muslims of Arab descent.

— Niraj Warikoo, Freep.com, 12 Sep. 2026
No slow descent into the pool either — from ankles, to knees, to waist, to chest.

— Dan Wiederer, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of descent

Verb

In recent weeks, new cases and deaths have declined in Ituri province, the outbreak's epicenter, but risen sharply in neighboring North Kivu and Haut-Uele, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said at a weekly briefing.

— JEAN-YVES KAMALE, Arkansas Online, 11 Sep. 2026
Headen declined to claim responsibility for any of the posts.

— David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of decline

Browse Nearby Words

plunders

plunge

plunged

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Style

“Plunge.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plunge. Accessed 12 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of plunge

verb

noun

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