1
2
as in falls
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 descends
to lead or extend downward
a stairway plunging into darkness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
While the filmmaker’s first nine movies were modestly budgeted — see Inherent Vice (2014) or Hard Eight (1996) — the $140 million One Battle, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, plunges Anderson into franchise-like economics.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025
Continue reading … DIGITAL DARKNESS – Taliban plunges Afghanistan into darkness as UN issues urgent warning.
—FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Also, any excuse to watch Bill Nighy, who stars as Doctor Lazarus, whose death plunges his forensic psychologist son (Sam Clafin) into a labyrinth of family mysteries.
—Emily Temple
september 30, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
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
Zion Canyon Hot Springs, which opened last summer in La Verkin, Utah, offers travelers a restorative escape with 50 pools—from geothermal soaks fed by local springs to cold plunges and mineral baths that replicate the world’s most iconic hot springs and their therapeutic benefits.
—Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Then there is a round of cold plunges, then a return to the sauna where people can stand up and share their experience.
—Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 14 Jan. 2026
Yoga breath work and sauna mentally and physically prepare guests for frozen-lake plunges and winter hikes sans coats.
—Julia Sayers Gokhale, Midwest Living, 9 Jan. 2026
Boxing studios — Rumble, 9Round, neighborhood gloves-on gyms — fill in the edges, while recovery bars, cold plunges and infrared saunas make post-class feel as intentional as the work itself.
—Eric Barton, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
Now the Scourge of Saugus plunges from number one with a bullet (a silver bullet, also known as a Coors Light) all the way down to Number 79 on the MSP’s Payroll Patriot Hit Parade.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 4 Jan. 2026
Ashford, who transferred in from South Carolina prior to the season, wrapped up his redshirt-senior year in style, throwing for 303 yards with three scores while adding 50 yards and a pair of second-half touchdown plunges to keep the rallying Bulldogs (5-8) at bay.
—Ryan Pritt, Charlotte Observer, 3 Jan. 2026
Verb
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
While the filmmaker’s first nine movies were modestly budgeted — see Inherent Vice (2014) or Hard Eight (1996) — the $140 million One Battle, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, plunges Anderson into franchise-like economics.
—Peter Bart, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025
Continue reading … DIGITAL DARKNESS – Taliban plunges Afghanistan into darkness as UN issues urgent warning.
—FOXNews.com, 1 Oct. 2025
Also, any excuse to watch Bill Nighy, who stars as Doctor Lazarus, whose death plunges his forensic psychologist son (Sam Clafin) into a labyrinth of family mysteries.
—Emily Temple
september 30, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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
Zion Canyon Hot Springs, which opened last summer in La Verkin, Utah, offers travelers a restorative escape with 50 pools—from geothermal soaks fed by local springs to cold plunges and mineral baths that replicate the world’s most iconic hot springs and their therapeutic benefits.
—Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026
Then there is a round of cold plunges, then a return to the sauna where people can stand up and share their experience.
—Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 14 Jan. 2026
Yoga breath work and sauna mentally and physically prepare guests for frozen-lake plunges and winter hikes sans coats.
—Julia Sayers Gokhale, Midwest Living, 9 Jan. 2026
Boxing studios — Rumble, 9Round, neighborhood gloves-on gyms — fill in the edges, while recovery bars, cold plunges and infrared saunas make post-class feel as intentional as the work itself.
—Eric Barton, Sun Sentinel, 4 Jan. 2026
Now the Scourge of Saugus plunges from number one with a bullet (a silver bullet, also known as a Coors Light) all the way down to Number 79 on the MSP’s Payroll Patriot Hit Parade.
—Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 4 Jan. 2026
Ashford, who transferred in from South Carolina prior to the season, wrapped up his redshirt-senior year in style, throwing for 303 yards with three scores while adding 50 yards and a pair of second-half touchdown plunges to keep the rallying Bulldogs (5-8) at bay.
—Ryan Pritt, Charlotte Observer, 3 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plunges
Verb
-
Plus, our fashion team dives into the wild world of phone accessories, breaking down how a whimsical little phone case became a Gen Z status symbol.—
InStyle,
InStyle,
20 Jan. 2026
-
This quiz dives into the foundational concepts that have revolutionized our understanding of space and time.—
Kenna Hughes-Castleberry,
Space.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The cold air is then expected to stay in place through the beginning of February, ensuring that whatever snow falls this weekend will stay on the ground for a while.—
Matthew Villafane,
CBS News,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Only one other player has been ever elected by the writers with 1,500 or fewer hits — Roy Campanella (1,422) in 1969 — and that total falls far short of the average career hit mark for all Hall of Fame batters, which is 2,330.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The other occurs when Marty descends a staircase in the opulent apartment that Kay shares with her rich husband, Milton (Kevin O’Leary).—
Brittany Spanos,
Rolling Stone,
5 Jan. 2026
-
Netflix What happens when a supernatural danger descends on a blissful retirement community?—
Sergio Pereira,
Space.com,
2 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The river tumbles and seethes through 278 miles of Grand Canyon National Park, taking its geologic time in carving a trench now deeper than a mile.—
Brandon Loomis,
AZCentral.com,
15 Dec. 2025
-
But if an asset tumbles and the investor can't meet the margin requirements, the trading platform may automatically liquidate the position, which leads to more selling and downward pressure on its price.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
21 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
As output rises, flow consistency drops during low-volume printing.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
22 Jan. 2026
-
That contentment was like a gentle wind on a hot day, or a few drops of rain during a drought – natural, humane happiness.—
Stephy Chung,
CNN Money,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Easter eggs of art history are plentiful, telling a story that dips and darts in many thrilling directions.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
11 Jan. 2026
-
As the sun dips, gather to participate in a temazcal heat ceremony, curated for mind, body, and spiritual cleansing, before sharing a meal and stories cooked by a private chef.—
Gemma Price,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Like California, New York state has also seen production spend declines as studio slates have contracted.—
Erik Hayden,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Those declines were sharper among more affluent households and younger shoppers, with a 7 percentage point year-over-year drop among households with an annual income of more than $100,000 and a 6 percentage point year-over-year fall among shoppers between the ages of 25 and 34, the survey found.—
Melissa Repko,
CNBC,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
Yet the sensation of a work that, in translation from one medium to another, no longer defies gravity but sort of roughly plummets back down to terra firma can’t easily be shaken off.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
18 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Plunges.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plunges. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
