1
as in to fall
to lead or extend downward
the pathway descends to the river bank
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to deteriorate
to become worse or of less value
the order of the classroom descended into chaos when the teacher left the room
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to plunge
to go to a lower level especially abruptly
leaves slowly descended from the branches in the gentle autumn wind wait for the elevator to descend
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to dismount
to come down from something (as a vehicle)
the driver descended from the truck's cab, dreading to see what he had hit
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples 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 descend
Image The Band would never match the critical reception accorded its groundbreaking first two albums, and its members later descended into discord and substance abuse.
—
Peter Applebome, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025
Foster pressed a button, and half a dozen blinds started descending, to cover the windows facing the water.
—Ian Parker, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
Trump supporters who descended on the city to watch the ceremony outside the Capitol from the National Mall were left to find other places to view the festivities.
—Zeke Miller, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2025
Trump supporters who descended on the city to watch the incoming president take the oath of office from the National Mall were left to find other places to view the ceremony when it was moved inside.
—Michelle Price, Twin Cities, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for descend 
Peter Applebome, New York Times, 21 Jan. 2025
Foster pressed a button, and half a dozen blinds started descending, to cover the windows facing the water.
—Ian Parker, The New Yorker, 20 Jan. 2025
Trump supporters who descended on the city to watch the ceremony outside the Capitol from the National Mall were left to find other places to view the festivities.
—Zeke Miller, Chicago Tribune, 20 Jan. 2025
Trump supporters who descended on the city to watch the incoming president take the oath of office from the National Mall were left to find other places to view the ceremony when it was moved inside.
—Michelle Price, Twin Cities, 20 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for descend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descend
Verb
-
However, as so often is the case, this reaffirmed American ideal fell short of reality.—
AJ Willingham,
CNN,
22 Jan. 2025
-
No snow was reported, so maybe a trace at best fell, Hinson said.—
Joe Marusak,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
That same month, Reinhart flew back home to Ohio as her grandmother’s health was deteriorating.—
Julia Sullivan,
SELF,
22 Jan. 2025
-
Conditions in Pensacola were deteriorating as of Tuesday morning, state officials said.—
Jeffrey Schweers,
Orlando Sentinel,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Six decades later, 9/11 once again plunged the country into wartime.—
Michael Schulman,
The New Yorker,
22 Jan. 2025
-
During the first Trump administration, refugee admissions plunged from 85,000 under the Obama administration to 11,800 in Trump’s last year in office.—
Brett Samuels,
The Hill,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The initial assaults over the weekend involved dismounted infantry walking in neat lines across snowy fields without much apparent support from artillery or aircraft.—
David Axe,
Forbes,
18 Dec. 2024
-
The footage, apparently shot by a Ukrainian drone, shows dismounted infantry attacking in columns across an open field without much apparent support from vehicles, artillery or aircraft.—
David Axe,
Forbes,
14 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Its roof slopes down quite steeply from front to back; its front wall also slopes.—
Ian Parker,
The New Yorker,
20 Jan. 2025
-
Multiple architectural elements are sloped or curved, including the hallways between guest rooms.—
Dewayne Bevil,
Orlando Sentinel,
16 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
The village is small and dense, lined with crumbling structures and the exploded remains of cars.—
Matt Donnelly,
Variety,
24 Jan. 2025
-
Yakumo will use his unique fighting styles to defeat the Divine Dragon Order that’s turned Tokyo into a dystopian, crumbling mess.—
Ash Parrish,
The Verge,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
On average the phone lasts about 10-11 hours for me outside before the battery dips below 10%.—
Ben Sin,
Forbes,
17 Jan. 2025
-
The key to another Chiefs run could again be Kelce, who, at age 35, is coming off of a second consecutive season in which his statistics dipped.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
17 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
They were greeted by Sanon, who had disembarked days earlier from a private jet, and Ashkard Pierre, a friend of the pastor, who is also the subject of a wanted poster, in connection to the assassination, issued by Haitian police.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
26 Jan. 2025
-
Droves of delegates arriving for the WEF were disembarking from their trains via a temporary railway platform that had been built halfway between the permanent Davos Dorf and Davos Platz stations that bookend the town.—
Caitlín Doherty,
Harper's Magazine,
2 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near descend
Cite this Entry
“Descend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descend. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share