PLUNGES Synonyms: 112 Similar and Opposite Words

plunges 1 of 2

verb

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

The tense moment lasts for several seconds before the hippo plunges back underwater and stops following the boat. — Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026 Dreams may be a universal and rich experience that plunges us into the unconscious to evoke some truth. — Literary Hub, 27 July 2026 Dexter grapples with killing her, but Rudy eventually can’t handle Dexter’s hesitance and takes the knife into his own hands—and nearly plunges it into Debra’s chest before Dexter stops him. — Ew Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 25 June 2026 In six parts, The American Revolution, directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt, plunges us into the momentous war that led to the nation’s founding. — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 16 June 2026 The jump plunges 364ft towards the Zambezi River below. — Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026 The main channel seen in the images measures about 6 miles (10 kilometers) wide and plunges roughly 1,640 feet (500 meters) deep. — Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 15 May 2026 If earlier American Football records hinted at adult disillusionment, LP4 plunges cannon ball-style into it. — Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 1 May 2026 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

Noun

Stellantis’s share price decline has included a couple of big plunges. — Neil Winton, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026 Desperate to maintain a connection to his wife’s home country, Ivan (Gordon-Levitt) plunges headfirst into life in Japan. — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 11 Aug. 2026 Influencers and celebrities often promote trendy strategies like cold plunges, supplement stacks, and expensive at-home tests as a way to extend lifespan. — Sarah Garone, HEALTH, 4 Aug. 2026 The wellness industry spent the last decade selling ever more complicated supplement stacks, cold plunges and $400 wearables. — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 25 July 2026 Alphabet and Tesla's post-earnings plunges also weighed on the market. — Alex Harring, CNBC, 24 July 2026 These days, cryotherapy and cupping are high on his list of favorites, while cold plunges have notably fallen behind. — Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 13 July 2026 Cold plunges, infrared saunas and red light panels are moving out of luxury spas and into garages, spare rooms and basements. — Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 July 2026 Sheer rock walls loom on one side, while the other, which is largely unguarded, plunges to the narrow canyon below. — Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 7 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for plunges

Verb

Check it out… ‘Ruthless Podcast’ dives into Swalwell’s Fang Fang scandal and the FBI raiding his home.

— , FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026
The Shahed-136 follows pre-programmed navigation after launch and then dives into the target with its explosive warhead.

— Abhishek Bhardwaj, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of dives

Verb

When Cantu reaches towards Lopez and screams his wife’s name, a shot rings out and Lopez falls slightly off camera.

— Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
Rather than extra long hair, think of a cut that falls somewhere below the collarbone, with enough layering or movement to keep it from feeling heavy.

— Laura Solla, Vogue, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of falls

Verb

As the plane descends, a lush landscape of verdant mountains that flow down into charming villages, beaches, and the crystal-clear waters beyond appears.

— Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 Aug. 2026
Opening night 2027-28 Winnipeg can compete for the playoffs in 2027-28 if Björck ascends before Scheifele descends.

— Murat Ates, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of descends

Noun

But their erotic encounter is short-lived, as Joe tumbles and blows his back out while sheepishly dancing to Sade.

— Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 11 July 2026
This highly competent, obsessive duo tumbles into a self-destructive cat-and-mouse dynamic — but who’s the cat and who’s the mouse?

— Sara Netzley, Entertainment Weekly, 2 July 2026

Definition of tumbles

Noun

Nike has never before given the Air Max 2001 Air Ecstasy a retro release before, but leaks from earlier this summer indicate the shoe will get a wider revival through in-line drops.

— Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 24 Aug. 2026
At the same time, the drops have suspended pigments that melt into the skin rather than sitting on top of it, creating a more even skin tone with a natural, slightly luminous finish.

— Jenny Berg, Vogue, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of drops

Verb

Salsas and dips including jalapeños have also been pulled from grocery stores across the United States.

— Paige Moore, AZCentral.com, 22 Aug. 2026
As the sun dips below the horizon, a fleet of onlookers on jet skis and boats idle on the water to catch a peek of the vivacious scene.

— Kailyn Brown, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of dips

Noun

In The Anxious Generation, Jonathan Haidt argues that overparenting and excessive screen time are driving declines in youth mental health.

— Sarah Hernholm, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026
This summer, the school board approved plans to close or consolidate nine more campuses – the most ever in one year – as enrollment declines and ensuing financial pressures stretch the district thin.

— Austin Horn, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026

Definition of declines

Verb

While students using unrestricted AI show immediate performance improvement while using AI agents, their performance plummets once the tool is removed.

— Aaron Glantz, Christian Science Monitor, 7 Aug. 2026
Las Vegas plummets down the board with its 8th place finish, and now sits outside the playoff positions.

— Todd Boss, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026