1
as in to fall
to lead or extend downward
the pathway descends to the river bank
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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
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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
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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
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of descend
South Korea’s constitution stipulates that the prime minister, then a descending order of Cabinet officials, can take over if the president vacates his position or is otherwise unable to carry out his duties.
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Max Kim, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024
Celebrity guests descended on Abu Dhabi for the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, attending events from Thursday to Sunday to celebrate the closing race of the 2024 Formula 1 season.
—Mikelle Street, WWD, 9 Dec. 2024
From the second the police knock on the Drake family home’s door (on Christmas day, no less!), Vera Drake descends into a vision of unrelenting pain as the rug is pulled out from under everything Vera holds dear.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2024
McLaren’s comfortable 1-2 start on the grid Sunday immediately descended into chaos after its other driver, Oscar Piastri, spun around in the first corner after tangling with Max Verstappen — a crash that earned the Red Bull driver a 10-second penalty.
—Sahil Kapur, NBC News, 8 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for descend 
Max Kim, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024
Celebrity guests descended on Abu Dhabi for the 2024 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, attending events from Thursday to Sunday to celebrate the closing race of the 2024 Formula 1 season.
—Mikelle Street, WWD, 9 Dec. 2024
From the second the police knock on the Drake family home’s door (on Christmas day, no less!), Vera Drake descends into a vision of unrelenting pain as the rug is pulled out from under everything Vera holds dear.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2024
McLaren’s comfortable 1-2 start on the grid Sunday immediately descended into chaos after its other driver, Oscar Piastri, spun around in the first corner after tangling with Max Verstappen — a crash that earned the Red Bull driver a 10-second penalty.
—Sahil Kapur, NBC News, 8 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for descend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descend
Verb
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On Friday, the stock fell almost 18% after the Danish pharmaceutical giant’s experimental weight loss drug known as CagriSema reported disappointing results in a late-stage trial.Alex Harring, CNBC, 23 Dec. 2024
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The proposal comes as Nissan is urgently cutting costs, having fallen behind in the global EV race, while both companies are struggling in the bruising Chinese automotive market.Nathan Bomey, Axios, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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But with the current war, the humanitarian situation in the camp has deteriorated, leading to the official confirmation of famine in August.Emmanuel Akinwotu, NPR, 21 Dec. 2024
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The service said travel conditions could deteriorate enough to slow traffic, and evening commutes would be affected.Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 20 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Novo Nordisk shares plunged 17.8% after the Danish pharmaceutical company reported disappointing trial results for a new weight loss drug.Yeo Boon Ping, CNBC, 23 Dec. 2024
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The Container Store has posted losses for each of its last two fiscal years, while sales have plunged about 23% over that time.Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 23 Dec. 2024
Verb
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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
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Cyclists will be asked to dismount when crossing the bridge, passing under the overhead cover and turning around the hairpin right before the bridge.Rachel Royster, Austin American-Statesman, 19 Aug. 2024
Verb
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Founded as a mining town in the 1870s, the city of 10,000 nestles up against the foothills of the Gila National Forest, 3.3 million acres of alligator juniper, ponderosa pine and Gambel oak draped across softly sloping mountains.Christopher Flavelle, New York Times, 18 Dec. 2024
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The frame includes a tight back that slopes into the arms for a contoured feel.Nora Colomer, Fox News, 29 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Roasted or sautéed garlic can add a savory depth, fresh or dried herbs can add complexity, freshness, and pops of color, grated cheese can add an indulgent finish, and crumbled bacon can add a salty kick and textural contrast.Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 24 Dec. 2024
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His boss, Herr Knock (Simon McBurney), dispatches him to Orlok’s castle so that the Count can buy a crumbling old pile in Germany.Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 24 Dec. 2024
Verb
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In a traditional Persian wedding, the bride and groom exchange honey instead of rings—dipping their little fingers into a jar, and then feeding one another.Iman Hariri-Kia, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2024
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The Japanese yen dipped 0.74% to 155.94 against the greenback, hitting a one-month low, as BOJ Governor Kazuo Ueda said the central bank will continue raising policy rates if the economy moves in line with its forecast.Anniek Bao, CNBC, 18 Dec. 2024
Verb
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For some, the appeal of a carry-on suitcase lies in the convenience of disembarking a flight, unencumbered by the luggage carousel and free to swiftly exit the airport.Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 24 Dec. 2024
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After one particularly challenging transcontinental flight with a diaper blowout and a toddler with motion sickness, my husband disembarked in foggy San Francisco wearing just swim trunks and a short-sleeve T-shirt.Jocelyn Newman, Travel + Leisure, 14 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Descend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descend. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
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