plunges 1 of 2

Definition of plungesnext
present tense third-person singular of plunge

plunges

2 of 2

noun

plural of plunge
1
as in tumbles
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 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

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 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
The big-wave surfer Laird Hamilton, for example, uses ice-bath plunges to rehearse suppressing panic and practice self-calming. Sally Jenkins, The Atlantic, 21 Feb. 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plunges
Verb
  • An exhibition that dives into the complex world of early modern Italian prints, drawings and the artist’s afterlife between 1500 and 1750.
    Alyson Rodriguez, Dallas Morning News, 5 Mar. 2026
  • The famous mom dives into her advocacy work and why there’s no stopping her.
    Anna Halkidis, Parents, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Iranians also continue to argue over who should lead if the current government falls.
    Alicia Victoria Lozano, NBC news, 7 Mar. 2026
  • The peak falls near a first-quarter moon this year, which bodes well for another bright, impressive shower this year, per the Old Farmer’s Almanac.
    Joseph Erbentraut, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The European social set descends on this Cape Town party spot every summer for its white sand and chilly blue water, as well as the trendy clubs and hotels that lie in the shadow of the Twelve Apostles mountain range.
    Melanie van Zyl, Travel + Leisure, 6 Mar. 2026
  • The scouting combine is the unofficial kickoff to the NFL offseason, as the entire football universe descends on Indianapolis’ abundant hotel lobbies and steakhouses to have discussions about free agency and the draft.
    Dan Duggan, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Slater is a virtuosic physical actor, and his evocation of the mime’s precision, silliness, and grace—the elastic faces, the acrobatic tumbles, the fingers that bloom into flowers, then wilt, then bloom again — is painstaking and loving in its observance.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 23 Feb. 2026
  • Bitcoin took one of its biggest tumbles yet.
    Rita Nazareth, Fortune, 5 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Napping drops with age to 47% of preschoolers (ages 3 to 5) and 28% of school-age children (6 to 13).
    Lily Hautau, CNN Money, 5 Mar. 2026
  • Mix a few drops of one of the oils, two tablespoons of dishwashing liquid, and two cups of water in a spray bottle.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 5 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • The potential for severe weather increases as the jet stream dips farther south, delivering more cold fronts that make clashes between warm and cold air more common.
    Mary Wasson, Austin American Statesman, 1 Mar. 2026
  • No buybacks, cash hoard dips slightly Buffett again refrained from buying back Berkshire shares despite ending Q4 along the flatline.
    Fred Imbert, CNBC, 28 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • After posting the fastest sales growth among major automakers in Europe last year, Renault’s performance has fallen off a cliff in 2026, with stark declines in several markets in January and February.
    Albertina Torsoli, Bloomberg, 9 Mar. 2026
  • Saudi Aramco’s shares rose the most in more than two years as investors bet that the rise in oil prices could offset declines in exports, Bloomberg reported.
    Amena Bakr, semafor.com, 9 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • But Venus plummets out of the evening sky in the next few weeks.
    Joe Rao, Space.com, 2 Mar. 2026
  • And when the temperature inevitably plummets in the first few months, the bob will no doubt disguise itself under the Olsen or Victoria Beckham turtleneck tuck, a technique that involves covering the ends of the hair in a high-neck sweater or jacket.
    Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 26 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Plunges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plunges. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.

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