1
as in drop
the act or process of going to a lower level or altitude
the airplane began its gradual descent to the landing field
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2
as in deterioration
a gradual sinking and wasting away of mind or body
the family patriarch's heartbreaking descent into infirmity and senility
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3
as in degradation
a change to a lower state or level
the nation's rapid descent into anarchy after the revolution
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4
as in demise
a loss of status
for throwing the game, the ballplayer underwent a huge descent in the eyes of the fans
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5
as in invasion
a sudden attack on and entrance into hostile territory
the lightning descent of the invading army on that unsuspecting border town
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6
as in attack
the act or action of setting upon with force or violence
the descent of the voracious locusts on the wheat fields
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7
as in ancestry
the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended
a person of Finnish descent
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8
as in downhill
a downward slope
on bicycle tours the ascents always seem to outnumber the descents
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of descent
Lisa and Alba cheered with every thrust and descent of the boat.
—
Ayşegül Savaş, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2025
In fact, Cactus to Clouds came to exist only because much of the descent takes place on the tram.
—Dina Mishev Max Whittaker, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2025
Some critics also argued Zegler, who is of Columbian descent, should not have been cast for the role of Snow White.
—Kevin Sabet, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025
From the main asteroid belt to Earth's atmosphere Meteorites are rocks from space that survive their fiery descent through Earth's atmosphere and reach the ground.
—Victoria Corless, Space.com, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for descent
Ayşegül Savaş, New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2025
In fact, Cactus to Clouds came to exist only because much of the descent takes place on the tram.
—Dina Mishev Max Whittaker, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2025
Some critics also argued Zegler, who is of Columbian descent, should not have been cast for the role of Snow White.
—Kevin Sabet, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025
From the main asteroid belt to Earth's atmosphere Meteorites are rocks from space that survive their fiery descent through Earth's atmosphere and reach the ground.
—Victoria Corless, Space.com, 24 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for descent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descent
Noun
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The stock market has opened to another drop on Monday, following last week's historic selloffs, with the S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average and Nasdaq Composite all down around 4 percent in early trades.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Apr. 2025
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The price of a bitcoin stands at about $79,000, which marks a roughly 30% drop from a peak attained in January.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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As leaders in the industry who have spent countless hours underground repairing failing gas lines, our licensed gas contractors have witnessed firsthand the deterioration of our state’s natural gas infrastructure.—
Harley Flack,
Baltimore Sun,
3 Apr. 2025
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Not spending enough time in the two deep stages of slumber might speed up the deterioration of parts of the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease, a new study found.—
Daniel Wine,
CNN Money,
31 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
This is, in part, about the degradation, devaluation, and replacement of writers.—
Anna Wiener,
New Yorker,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Soil degradation, water scarcity, and climate volatility have become immediate operational threats.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Prior to the start of the Final Four, the negative storylines were well in place that the demise of March Madness was here during the NIL era of college basketball.—
DJ Siddiqi,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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Sarah’s demise happens early on in the film, but her presence is still peppered throughout via flashbacks, momentary flashes mid-scene and photographic reminders.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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False light is an invasion of privacy that portrays someone in an unfair light.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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The strike in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's hometown was one of Moscow's deadliest this year in the conflict, launched with the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.—
Yuliia Dysa and Tom Balmforth,
USA Today,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
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There has been a big labor split, however, with carpenters and laborers unions going heavily for Moreno — and waging tough attacks against Aguirre.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Apr. 2025
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On Friday, a Russian ballistic missile and drone attack on the city of Kryvyi Rih -- Zelenskyy's home town -- killed 19 people, including nine children.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
6 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The prospect of highly sensitive genetic, ancestry and account information being sold to an unknown buyer who may use it in ways customers had not anticipated causes anxiety for some.—
Abigail Dubiniecki,
Forbes.com,
1 Apr. 2025
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This includes genetic information, biological DNA samples, health information, ancestry and genealogy information, personal contact information, payment and billing information, and other information, such as messages that genetic relatives can send each other through the platform.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Saturday’s World Cup finals downhill race was called off due to windy conditions, and Macuga took a DNF in Sunday’s Super-G—another career first.—
Michelle Bruton,
Forbes,
25 Mar. 2025
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Girdwood, known as Alaska's skiing capital, is home to Alyeska Resort, a popular destination for downhill skiing and snowboarding with breathtaking views of Turnagain Arm.—
Russel Honoré,
Newsweek,
5 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Descent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descent. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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