1
as in falls
to lead or extend downward
the pathway descends to the river bank
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Sloan allows that the next big test for local sports arrives as the 2026 FIFA World Cup descends upon North American for a 39-day residency.
—
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 24 Apr. 2026
In the legend, Orpheus descends into the underworld in an attempt to rescue his lover, Eurydice.
—Jacob Wycoff, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
The tension breaks when Angel has a meltdown at the club, forcing Rue to mercifully share the truth that Tish overdosed, sending Angel into an emotional spiral that descends into addiction.
—Zoe Papelis, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2026
Highway descends into chaos after massive 75-vehicle pileup, amid hazardous winter weather.
—FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
The film is set in the idyllic summer town of Bayleen Bay, which descends into madness when an ice cream man serves kids from his truck with horrifying results.
—Arushi Jacob, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026
With the push of a button, the elevator descends hundreds of meters in seconds into the dark depths of Onkalo.
—James Brooks, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
The height comes from a stance atop 20-inch wheels, and the vehicle’s sloping hood descends low, like a brooding brow.
—John Scott Lewinski, Robb Report, 8 Apr. 2026
As the art world descends upon the Windy City for the Expo Chicago fair, Grynsztejn looks back on her history with the institution and ahead to a busy week.
—Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 24 Apr. 2026
In the legend, Orpheus descends into the underworld in an attempt to rescue his lover, Eurydice.
—Jacob Wycoff, CBS News, 23 Apr. 2026
The tension breaks when Angel has a meltdown at the club, forcing Rue to mercifully share the truth that Tish overdosed, sending Angel into an emotional spiral that descends into addiction.
—Zoe Papelis, Vulture, 22 Apr. 2026
Highway descends into chaos after massive 75-vehicle pileup, amid hazardous winter weather.
—FOXNews.com, 15 Apr. 2026
The film is set in the idyllic summer town of Bayleen Bay, which descends into madness when an ice cream man serves kids from his truck with horrifying results.
—Arushi Jacob, Variety, 13 Apr. 2026
With the push of a button, the elevator descends hundreds of meters in seconds into the dark depths of Onkalo.
—James Brooks, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
The height comes from a stance atop 20-inch wheels, and the vehicle’s sloping hood descends low, like a brooding brow.
—John Scott Lewinski, Robb Report, 8 Apr. 2026
As the art world descends upon the Windy City for the Expo Chicago fair, Grynsztejn looks back on her history with the institution and ahead to a busy week.
—Brian Boucher, ARTnews.com, 8 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descends
Verb
-
Lawrence, though, is widely regarded as a top-five player at his position, whereas Greenard falls around 15th among edge rushers in most meaningful metrics.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The 44% theory Steve Dittmore admits that his research interest, the relationship of athletics and enrollment at small colleges, falls pretty far outside of the mainstream, even in the already-niche world of sports and higher ed.—
Mark Dent,
thehustle.co,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Her condition rapidly deteriorates to the point where Abbott and Robby are forced to do a C-Section in the ER, with seconds to spare to save her life and the life of the baby.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Originally staged at Avignon in 2025, the play follows a father and daughter whose bond is tested across the vastness of space as one of them starts a new life on Mars while Earth deteriorates.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Ernaux’s signature method of resisting interpretation and incarnating the past plunges us into this girl’s experience.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Apr. 2026
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Architectonics takes this murky style and plunges it to a new deep, incorporating the bronze gong and chime sounds of gamelan while burying his rhythms in dense, dubby layers of incense smoke.—
Sam Goldner,
Pitchfork,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Like the impish anti-romance that crumbles around it, the movie’s twist is both transgressive enough to be pleased with itself and also rooted in a reality that refuses to be dismissed as a bad joke.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Loyalty, betrayal, illness and war all bear down on the group as the old order crumbles around them.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
25 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The flagellar bundle falls apart, and the cell tumbles.—
Quanta Magazine,
Quanta Magazine,
20 Apr. 2026
-
This setting uses more water and tumbles linens gently to keep them from getting twisted.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
13 Apr. 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
-
The incompetence at every level worsens and only two incompetents have been removed.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Charlotte Water has asked customers to cut usage by about 3% to 5% to help protect the region’s supply and avoid stricter measures if the drought worsens.—
Nora O'Neill,
Charlotte Observer,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Chatting with the peddler Rutherford Selig (Bradley Stryker, enjoyably channeling Deadwood), Bynum casually unzips the surface of reality and dips into the waters below.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
26 Apr. 2026
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In a video taken at the King’s Gallery by Daily Mail reporter Rebecca English, Chatto and King Charles are seen greeting each other with a double cheek kiss, before Sarah dips into a curtsy for her cousin.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
21 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Descends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descends. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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