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
Architectonics takes this murky style and plunges it to a new deep, incorporating the bronze gong and chime sounds of gamelan while burying his rhythms in dense, dubby layers of incense smoke. Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 13 Apr. 2026 As the capsule plunges through the atmosphere, a communications blackout is anticipated as plasma builds up around the spacecraft and causes interference. Denise Chow, NBC news, 9 Apr. 2026 The Guardians must protect the Legendary Silver Crystal when a battle erupts with a mysterious enemy during the Celestial Ball and plunges the Moon Palace into chaos. Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 3 Apr. 2026 By day, the road between Presidio and Terlingua, through Big Bend Ranch State Park, curves along the river then climbs and plunges over steep hills. Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 1 Apr. 2026 All eyes will be on Orion’s heat shield as the capsule plunges through the atmosphere. Marcia Dunn, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026 His documentary plunges viewers into a 1996 expedition in Brazil to contact the isolate Indigenous Koruba people in the Amazon rainforest. Matthew Carey, Deadline, 20 Mar. 2026 Set in a remote harbor village near the DMZ, the sci-fi thriller kicks off with reports of a mysterious discovery that plunges the town into a desperate fight for survival. Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 18 Mar. 2026 This debacle plunges the Marvins into Sydney’s criminal demimonde, where Susi is part of an organization headquartered in an amusement park and led by another brother-sister duo, this one terrifyingly unhinged. Judy Berman, Time, 11 Mar. 2026
Noun
Ellen Pompeo takes a chillier approach, always looking for hotels with cold plunges. Meredith Lepore, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2026 Other everyday situations — from Ubers to trains to even cold plunges — require similar adjustments, often forcing him to contort his body just to fit. Jordan Greene, PEOPLE, 7 Apr. 2026 Finally, in Kansas City, Missouri, Klā Sanctuary is a contemporary bathhouse with an herbal steam room, mineral bath, and cold plunges. Lauren Dana Ellman, Midwest Living, 7 Apr. 2026 Seasonal children's programming is available for ages three to 17, and adults can enjoy the cold plunges, sauna, and hot tub at the Lazy You Hideaway while the kids are occupied. Julie Bielenberg, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2026 Think an 82-foot lap pool with hot and cold plunges, a spa, fitness and Pilates studios, plus a triple-height Winter Garden, private dining rooms, sports court, golf simulator, screening room, and even a music studio. Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 23 Mar. 2026 Each guest receives a massage every full day, and there are sauna facilities, cold plunges, and a pool. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 19 Mar. 2026 Usually the plunges are as mild as a kiddie roller coaster. Seth Borenstein, Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026 Usually, the plunges are as mild as a kiddie roller coaster. Seth Borenstein, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plunges
Verb
  • After a crushing breakup, Lucy moves back in with her eccentric single dad and dives into bad dates, false starts, and growing pains.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2026
  • Wisconsin forward Ryan Botterill (21) dives to attempt a shot on Denver goaltender Johnny Hicks (31) in the second period of the championship game at the NCAA Frozen Four men's college hockey tournament Saturday, April 11, 2026, in Las Vegas.
    MARK ANDERSON, CBS News, 12 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Grapevine surges from behind, falls short Lake Creek provided most of the pressure early in the match, keeping the ball in Grapevine’s end and getting off six shots before the Mustangs started pressing in the 26th minute.
    Charles Baggarly & Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11 Apr. 2026
  • The Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza, once an aristocratic mansion, falls somewhere between the avant-garde works at the Reina Sofia and the traditional Spanish art at the Prado.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • With the push of a button, the elevator descends hundreds of meters in seconds into the dark depths of Onkalo.
    James Brooks, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
  • The height comes from a stance atop 20-inch wheels, and the vehicle’s sloping hood descends low, like a brooding brow.
    John Scott Lewinski, Robb Report, 8 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • After a number of tumbles through the incoming crashing waves, Phan grabbed ahold of the shark's tail and fearlessly guided it back into the ocean, prompting cheers from onlookers.
    Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 3 Apr. 2026
  • Beneath the twists and tumbles of its plot, Reddick’s play is concerned with the people and communities that never profit when power seeks to increase itself — children, poor folks, Black folks.
    Sara Holdren, Vulture, 11 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • To keep it simple, combine 1 cup of baking soda with 10 drops of your choice of citrus or lavender oil, then sprinkle it over soft surfaces such as carpets or upholstered furniture.
    Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 16 Apr. 2026
  • For anyone who has only ever experienced rain as something that gradually builds — a few drops, then more, then a steady fall — a wall of rain upends that expectation entirely.
    Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 16 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Historically, the closer’s velocity dips early in the season following his 2023 knee injury, typically bouncing back as warm weather arrives and the season progresses.
    Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2026
  • The surf-style company Johnnie-O, for example, dips into the Deep South with its classic, understated Azalea Collection.
    Dave Skretta, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The Northeast and the Midwest have the highest density of college campuses but will also see some of the biggest declines in the number of high-school graduates by the 2040s.
    Jeffrey Selingo, The Atlantic, 12 Apr. 2026
  • However, the brand has seen month-on-month declines in sales since September 2025, pointing to weakening momentum in its core NEV lineup.
    Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 12 Apr. 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 19 Apr. 2026.

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