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
Relevance
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
Shares of Adobe, the owner of Photoshop and other tools, have been punished lately, plunging 40% below their May 2025 high and into a bear market.
—
Sarah Min, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2026
Snow is expected to spread across the area Friday morning, followed by a hard freeze overnight that could send temperatures plunging to between 18 and 25 degrees, according to the National Weather Service office in Boulder.
—Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 17 Apr. 2026
And before that, the 2007–08 food price crisis raised agricultural commodity prices by over 100%, plunging 150 million people into extreme poverty — and prompting the creation of the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP).
—Shobha Shetty, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026
On Sunday, Kylie shared more photos to Instagram from the weekend, sporting a skimpy sheer lace bra top with a plunging neckline and long sleeves.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026
Trump’s move to shutter the building for two years starting in July, which was approved by the board last month, has spurred lawsuits and an outcry that the closure is merely a response to plunging sales as artists canceled Kennedy Center performances in droves.
—Steven Sloan, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
In February, a mix of snow and road salt seeped into underground electrical equipment, plunging more than 5,000 of our constituents in Park Slope, Boerum Hill, Crown Heights, Bed-Stuy, and Bushwick into darkness.
—Shahana Hanif, New York Daily News, 14 Apr. 2026
Isolated, he is confronted with a series of mysterious crimes that shatter the fragile order of his court, plunging the fortress into fear and suspicion.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 14 Apr. 2026
This created a conglomeration of steep cliffs, ledges, and stair-step walls— many plunging over 1,400 feet from rim to creek.
—Anthony Fredericks, Travel + Leisure, 12 Apr. 2026
Sarah Min, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2026
Snow is expected to spread across the area Friday morning, followed by a hard freeze overnight that could send temperatures plunging to between 18 and 25 degrees, according to the National Weather Service office in Boulder.
—Jessica Alvarado Gamez, Denver Post, 17 Apr. 2026
And before that, the 2007–08 food price crisis raised agricultural commodity prices by over 100%, plunging 150 million people into extreme poverty — and prompting the creation of the Global Agriculture and Food Security Program (GAFSP).
—Shobha Shetty, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2026
On Sunday, Kylie shared more photos to Instagram from the weekend, sporting a skimpy sheer lace bra top with a plunging neckline and long sleeves.
—Skyler Caruso, PEOPLE, 15 Apr. 2026
Trump’s move to shutter the building for two years starting in July, which was approved by the board last month, has spurred lawsuits and an outcry that the closure is merely a response to plunging sales as artists canceled Kennedy Center performances in droves.
—Steven Sloan, Los Angeles Times, 14 Apr. 2026
In February, a mix of snow and road salt seeped into underground electrical equipment, plunging more than 5,000 of our constituents in Park Slope, Boerum Hill, Crown Heights, Bed-Stuy, and Bushwick into darkness.
—Shahana Hanif, New York Daily News, 14 Apr. 2026
Isolated, he is confronted with a series of mysterious crimes that shatter the fragile order of his court, plunging the fortress into fear and suspicion.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 14 Apr. 2026
This created a conglomeration of steep cliffs, ledges, and stair-step walls— many plunging over 1,400 feet from rim to creek.
—Anthony Fredericks, Travel + Leisure, 12 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for plunging
Verb
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This could look like flirting with someone unexpectedly, diving into a passion project or deciding you’re done hiding in plain sight.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
10 Apr. 2026
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But a fragment of the plate is still diving under areas to the north, powering the Cascade volcanoes; another does similar things in Central America.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The school calendar’s architects also had the benefit of a number of school holidays falling over weekends, including Rosh Hashanah, Diwali and Juneteenth.—
Cayla Bamberger,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2026
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Officials said seven of the victims were struck by gunfire, while others were hurt in the chaos as people scrambled to get down from the pyramids, with some falling during the panic.—
Bradford Betz,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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After separation, the weapon follows a steep ballistic trajectory, descending at high velocity toward its target.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Apr. 2026
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That, of course, can’t last forever, and soon enough, the entire family is descending on Malcolm’s life, turning it upside down.—
Stuart Miller,
Oc Register,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Susan Oludele, a braider in New York and Los Angeles, recommends boiling a pot of water, then dipping a towel into it.—
Danielle James,
Allure,
22 Apr. 2026
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The system will bring a cold front, with temperatures into the weekend dipping back down to the 50s.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Junior center fielder Gracie Del Toro made a diving catch of a sinking liner to preserve the no-hitter in the fourth.—
Rick Armstrong,
Chicago Tribune,
22 Apr. 2026
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All three tornadoes were created by a mix of the warm air rising from the ground and very cold air in the atmosphere sinking at the same time.—
Joseph Serna,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
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On Friday, Iran declared the Strait of Hormuz fully open to commercial traffic, sending crude prices tumbling more than 10%.—
Anniek Bao,
CNBC,
20 Apr. 2026
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Oil prices and stock futures began tumbling yesterday as tensions renewed in the strait, which carries a fifth of the world's oil supply as well as a large amount of liquid natural has and fertilizer.—
Will Clark,
NBC news,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The Salt Lake County District Attorney's Office also reviewed evidence from West Jordan before declining to file charges.—
Luke Chinman,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
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Birth rates and fertility trends The administration is overhauling Title X in the context of declining birth rates.—
Dr. Céline Gounder,
CBS News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The coin's value initially soared to more than $44 before plummeting almost immediately.—
Lucien Bruggeman,
ABC News,
21 Apr. 2026
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Philanthropic support for the arts is plummeting, and with the passing last year of major philanthropists such as Gund and Leonard Lauder, there are few replacements on the horizon.—
Gale Brewer,
New York Daily News,
17 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Plunging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/plunging. Accessed 24 Apr. 2026.
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