1
as in falls
to lead or extend downward
the pathway descends to the river bank
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in deteriorates
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 plunges
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 dismounts
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of descends
As the summer air thickens with diffused sunlight and harsh humidity, a psychological fog descends on our young protagonist.
—
Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
And water aerobics for senior women descends into a bizarre request.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 15 Mar. 2026
With fewer than 100 days until the FIFA World Cup descends on Kansas City, city leaders could soon ask the tournament’s organizers for money to help KC further address homelessness during the major event this summer and beyond.
—Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2026
Learn about Outside Online's affiliate link policy Spearfisher and free diver Kimi Werner descends more than 100 feet on a single breath.
—Stella Fong, Outside, 10 Mar. 2026
The European social set descends on this Cape Town party spot every summer for its white sand and chilly blue water, as well as the trendy clubs and hotels that lie in the shadow of the Twelve Apostles mountain range.
—Melanie Van Zyl, Travel + Leisure, 6 Mar. 2026
The scouting combine is the unofficial kickoff to the NFL offseason, as the entire football universe descends on Indianapolis’ abundant hotel lobbies and steakhouses to have discussions about free agency and the draft.
—Dan Duggan, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2026
The result, on paper, is a bike that climbs quickly and descends even quicker.
—New Atlas, 24 Feb. 2026
Bear left for the Horseshoe Bend segment that descends quickly to the Agua Fria River.
—Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
And water aerobics for senior women descends into a bizarre request.
—Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 15 Mar. 2026
With fewer than 100 days until the FIFA World Cup descends on Kansas City, city leaders could soon ask the tournament’s organizers for money to help KC further address homelessness during the major event this summer and beyond.
—Chris Higgins, Kansas City Star, 12 Mar. 2026
Learn about Outside Online's affiliate link policy Spearfisher and free diver Kimi Werner descends more than 100 feet on a single breath.
—Stella Fong, Outside, 10 Mar. 2026
The European social set descends on this Cape Town party spot every summer for its white sand and chilly blue water, as well as the trendy clubs and hotels that lie in the shadow of the Twelve Apostles mountain range.
—Melanie Van Zyl, Travel + Leisure, 6 Mar. 2026
The scouting combine is the unofficial kickoff to the NFL offseason, as the entire football universe descends on Indianapolis’ abundant hotel lobbies and steakhouses to have discussions about free agency and the draft.
—Dan Duggan, New York Times, 28 Feb. 2026
The result, on paper, is a bike that climbs quickly and descends even quicker.
—New Atlas, 24 Feb. 2026
Bear left for the Horseshoe Bend segment that descends quickly to the Agua Fria River.
—Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 20 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descends
Verb
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Support falls somewhat, to 70%, among non-MAGA Republicans.—
Anne Bryson,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Payton’s falls short of Chamberlain Gary Payton II had a chance to equal the feat of one of the game’s greatest players on Friday.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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When hospitals operate under extreme and unpredictable demand spikes, patient safety deteriorates.—
Eugene Litvak,
STAT,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Haldea cautioned that the secondary market could struggle to absorb a large wave of redemptions if investor sentiment deteriorates sharply.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
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His documentary plunges viewers into a 1996 expedition in Brazil to contact the isolate Indigenous Koruba people in the Amazon rainforest.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
20 Mar. 2026
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Set in a remote harbor village near the DMZ, the sci-fi thriller kicks off with reports of a mysterious discovery that plunges the town into a desperate fight for survival.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Loyalty, betrayal, illness and war all bear down on the group as the old order crumbles around them.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
25 Feb. 2026
-
The song was inspired by surviving a toxic relationship, and then finding a true-hearted love that crumbles emotional walls.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The video shows the plane colliding with the truck, going over the vehicle, which tumbles beneath the jet.—
Jesse Zanger,
CBS News,
23 Mar. 2026
-
There's something so timeless and romantic about hair that almost audibly tumbles down one's back.—
Marci Robin,
Allure,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
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When border agents board during a stop (each with wanted posters of Philip and Elizabeth), Paige disembarks.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Jan. 2026
-
In the climax, the yacht docks in Norway, and everyone disembarks.—
Keith Langston,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Distress could spread to countries beyond the Gulf if dire conditions prompt residents to flee across borders and infrastructure damage worsens a global oil shock, analysts said.—
Max Zahn,
ABC News,
27 Mar. 2026
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In this case, your sweat is wasted and actually worsens the situation by failing to cool your body and contributing to dehydration.—
Brad Stulberg,
Outside,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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This month, water temps were in the mid-to-upper 60s, at a time when the thermometer typically dips to the 50s.—
Laylan Connelly,
Oc Register,
27 Mar. 2026
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If the stock dips below the short put strike, one will be compelled to buy IVZ at $22.—
Michael Khouw,
CNBC,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Descends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descends. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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