PLUNGES Synonyms: 112 Similar and Opposite Words

plunges 1 of 2

verb

Definition of plunges next

present tense third-person singular of plunge

as in dives

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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Relevance

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surfaces

as in falls

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

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as in descends

to lead or extend downward a stairway plunging into darkness

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plunges

2 of 2

noun

plural of plunge

as in tumbles

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

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jumps
leaps

as in drops

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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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 plunges

Verb

When Heathcliff, a foundling, discovers that Cathy Earnshaw, the daughter of the impoverished Yorkshire lord who’s taken him in, has played a prank on him by putting eggs in his beds to be crushed, the boy plunges his fingers into the slippery puddle of yolk and albumen left behind. —

Alison Willmore, Vulture, 9 Feb. 2026 Madelyn Cline is giving all the stylish WAGS who showed up at the 2026 NFL Honors a run for their money thanks to a blue Christopher Esber gown that plunges all the way to her stomach. —

Emma Banks, InStyle, 6 Feb. 2026 Wang specializes in balancing tragedy with mirth (see her award-winning film The Farewell), though Expats plunges deeper into grief and darkness. —

Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Jan. 2026 How far this arctic air plunges south will determine the scope of a winter storm in the making. —

Kathryn Prociv, NBC news, 19 Jan. 2026 The teaser plunges viewers into the world of two content creators from contrasting backgrounds who unite for a collaboration fueled by curiosity, social media clout and mutual attraction. —

Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 Jan. 2026 Their love scene in the rain, while obviously less visually spectacular than in the film, plunges headlong into romantic cliches that manage to get the job done despite their obviousness. —

Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 9 Jan. 2026 What happens to DATs when the market plunges? —

Arjun Kharpal, CNBC, 2 Dec. 2025 As the humpback plunges back below the surface the remoras, also known as sucker fish, return to the whale, sticking their landings with the timing and precision of Olympic gymnasts. —

CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025

Noun

For recovery and contrast therapy, Verde features infrared saunas, a traditional Finnish sauna that heats up to 190°F, hot tubs and cold plunges. —

Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026 Those who have studied behavior science know that when a person is forced to make too many choices in a short amount of time, the quality of the decision plunges. —

Malana Vantyler, Sacbee.com, 4 Feb. 2026 What are the health benefits of saunas and cold plunges? —

Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 2 Feb. 2026 The seventh floor will feature fitness and wellness facilities with saunas and cold plunges. —

Travis Webb, Austin American Statesman, 31 Jan. 2026 The moment Murphy loses his footing and nearly plunges to his death, one brick away from his goal, audiences should be on the edge of their seats, primed to applaud when the deed is done. —

Peter Debruge, Variety, 27 Jan. 2026 Activists say Iran’s deadly crackdown on protests has killed at least 6,159 people as the nation’s currency plunges to historic lows. —

Jon Gambrell, Los Angeles Times, 27 Jan. 2026 The temperature plunges; Reilly’s trills harden into an Old World dirge. —

Brad Shoup, Pitchfork, 24 Jan. 2026 And when a cold front bringing Arctic air plunges temperatures outside well below freezing (5 degrees Fahrenheit) — water in the soil begins to freeze. —

Jalen Williams, Freep.com, 23 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for plunges

Verb

There will be times when too much time on my hands leads to nonsense, like deep character dives on Instagram regarding the wives of ex-boyfriends.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 29 Jan. 2026
Bolstered by weighty performances from Carey Mulligan, Andrew Garfield, and Keira Knightley, the film dives into heavy themes of mortality and ethics with striking clarity.

— Kevin Jacobsen, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Jan. 2026