1
as in diving
to cast oneself head first into deep water
she took a deep breath and plunged from the side of the pool
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in falling
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 descending
to lead or extend downward
a stairway plunging into darkness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of plunging
The floor-length number was designed with a plunging V-neck, adorned with sparkling floral appliques.
—
Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026
Strong wind gusts are expected to move into the Boise area, forecasters said, bringing low road visibility, plunging temperatures and possible power outages.
—Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 10 June 2026
Nearly half of all Americans did not read a single book in 2025, with the habit plunging some 40% over the last decade.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 9 June 2026
Aubrey’s form-fitting dress hugged her burgeoning bump, carrying the white-and-black scheme through her LBD’s plunging neckline and white straps.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 7 June 2026
These deals have occurred at a time when plunging values, loan defaults and even foreclosures haunt the Bay Area hotel market.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
The Adidas campaign star wore a brown halter gown by the American designer with a plunging neckline that landed at Mendes’ waist, augmented by a gold hardware embellishment.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 2 June 2026
The plunging bed missed the driver’s upper body but pinned his legs.
—Jonathan Franzen, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
Notably, Sims showcased a gingham one-piece featuring a plunging V-neck.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026
Strong wind gusts are expected to move into the Boise area, forecasters said, bringing low road visibility, plunging temperatures and possible power outages.
—Hali Smith, Idaho Statesman, 10 June 2026
Nearly half of all Americans did not read a single book in 2025, with the habit plunging some 40% over the last decade.
—Jim Edwards, Fortune, 9 June 2026
Aubrey’s form-fitting dress hugged her burgeoning bump, carrying the white-and-black scheme through her LBD’s plunging neckline and white straps.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 7 June 2026
These deals have occurred at a time when plunging values, loan defaults and even foreclosures haunt the Bay Area hotel market.
—George Avalos, Mercury News, 3 June 2026
The Adidas campaign star wore a brown halter gown by the American designer with a plunging neckline that landed at Mendes’ waist, augmented by a gold hardware embellishment.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 2 June 2026
The plunging bed missed the driver’s upper body but pinned his legs.
—Jonathan Franzen, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
Notably, Sims showcased a gingham one-piece featuring a plunging V-neck.
—Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 1 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plunging
Verb
-
Brewer centerfielder Ava Pena got a glove on the ball and held on for a second, but lost it while diving to the ground.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 May 2026
-
The 39-year-old man was with three friends diving from a boat at Kennedy Shoal off the Queensland state coast south of Cairns when he was attacked, Police Inspector Elaine Burns said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
Although the push to get Huang out of the race failed, the leftist’s campaign ended up falling flat, securing less than 3% of the vote in the primary.—
Noah Goldberg,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2026
-
Wall Street, meanwhile, got some relief from falling oil prices.—
Stan Choe,
Fortune,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
Helicopters and troops descending upon the Puente Hills Mall rattled Palacios and her daughter, who live a block away from the shopping center.—
Joy Benedict,
CBS News,
6 June 2026
-
The dashcam video shows the interior of the cab in the moments before and after the collision, as the driver appears to notice the rapidly descending plane just before impact.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
5 June 2026
Verb
-
Families are dipping into savings to maintain their spending, and more people are falling behind on their credit card bills.—
Christopher Rugaber,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
-
Plenty of changes still require dipping into the central touchscreen, too, though a more widescreen-style horizontal aspect ratio with the main status bar moved to the left (closer to the driver’s hand) also helps here.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
9 June 2026
Verb
-
The treatment rooms are spacious, and lying on the massage table felt like sinking into a cloud.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 June 2026
-
The Cubs players continued to taunt Ruth at every opportunity, and a big one came their way in the bottom of the fourth inning when Jurges slashed a sinking liner into right field and the lumbering, top-heavy Babe muffed a shoestring catch.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
Verb
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Investors have fled Jakarta’s equity markets since the start of the year, with the Jakarta Composite tumbling over 35% year to date.—
Lim Hui Jie,
CNBC,
9 June 2026
-
In Brooklyn, where wind gusts reached 64 mph, video showed furniture tumbling across the deck of a rooftop pool.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
Writers and reporters at the conference are learning how to improve their coverage of topics, including changes to education at the federal and state levels, the use of artificial intelligence in schools, and declining enrollment.—
Kellye Lynn,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
-
As Hartford education officials work to mitigate a large budget deficit, a report from an outside firm The Connecticut State Department of Education hired to review Hartford Public Schools’ financials found that declining enrollment and decisions regarding salaries and hiring are to blame.—
Livi Stanford,
Hartford Courant,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
China’s plummeting imports have effectively shielded oil prices from increasing, analysts said.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
10 June 2026
-
The same elixir of plummeting employment and rising healthcare costs has also plagued the directors, though not to the same degree.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plunging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plunging. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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