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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of descent
Last week, the Italian reported via his popular X account that Barca had signed a Swedish teenage sensation of Moroccan descent in Copenhagen’s Roony Bardghji.
—
Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
To date, all items raised from the Titanic have been recovered from within a 15-square-mile debris field — a vast underwater scatter zone formed when the ship broke apart during its final descent.
—Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 6 July 2025
Notably, the protagonists of Rowan's work are of Asian descent.
—Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
When canal broke ground in the heart of the Oneida homeland, many Oneida Christians turned to Eleazer Williams, an Episcopalian missionary of Mohawk descent.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for descent
Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
To date, all items raised from the Titanic have been recovered from within a 15-square-mile debris field — a vast underwater scatter zone formed when the ship broke apart during its final descent.
—Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 6 July 2025
Notably, the protagonists of Rowan's work are of Asian descent.
—Marcus K. Dowling, The Tennessean, 2 July 2025
When canal broke ground in the heart of the Oneida homeland, many Oneida Christians turned to Eleazer Williams, an Episcopalian missionary of Mohawk descent.
—Michael Barnes, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for descent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descent
Noun
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The same day, discounts and coupons offered on Meituan had seen prices of a cup of coffee drop to as low as 2 yuan ($0.28), according to local media.—
Dylan Butts,Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
11 July 2025
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The drop was even starker among Republicans, with that change from 88 to 48 percent — nearly cut in half — in the space of a year.—
Dan Gooding,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 July 2025
Noun
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With deterioration continuing, a 2014 study recommended the entire span be replaced.—
Carolyn Stein,
Chicago Tribune,
8 July 2025
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Corrosion is one of the leading causes of conventional RC infrastructure deterioration, often requiring extensive repairs and maintenance.—
Carol Cain,
Freep.com,
3 July 2025
Noun
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In 2023, the U.S. Geological Survey reported that projected coral reef degradation in Florida could increase the coastal flood risk to more than 7,300 people at the cost of $823.6 million annually.—
Rafe Pomerance,
Sun Sentinel,
6 July 2025
-
The administration cited the degradation of the current FBI complex as a reason for the move.—
Ross O'Keefe,
The Washington Examiner,
1 July 2025
Noun
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Just months after Saint Archer’s demise, though, Japanese brewing behemoth Sapporo bought the county’s largest brewery, Stone.—
Peter Rowe,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 July 2025
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Despite Cordelia Chase’s unfortunate demise in the Buffy spinoff Angel, Charisma Carpenter is game to revive the character in the upcoming Buffy reboot.—
Nick Caruso,
TVLine,
2 July 2025
Noun
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Doyle also has two other convictions for narcotics possession, and in 2010 he was charged with armed home invasion and aggravated domestic battery stemming from an incident in Skokie.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
9 July 2025
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The strain of keeping Russia's invasion at bay, and the lack of progress in direct peace talks, has compelled Ukraine to seek more military help from the United States and Europe.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 July 2025
Noun
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From 21 March on, the gang launched attacks against several areas in the communes of Petite Rivière de l’Artibonite and Marchand Dessalines.—
Jacqueline Charles
July 11,
Miami Herald,
11 July 2025
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In one attack in late January, Russian drones hit an apartment complex in an overnight attack, killing nine people and injuring 13.—
Joanna Kakissis,
NPR,
11 July 2025
Noun
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The results give key findings from over 265 health tests, identify over 365 dog breeds, and provide insights into genetics and ancestry.—
Molly Higgins,
Wired News,
8 July 2025
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In 2017, social media users dragged Blake Lively for claiming to have indigenous ancestry in a L'Oreal Paris makeup commercial.—
Alexis Simmerman,
Austin American Statesman,
2 July 2025
Noun
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Overall, its versatile geometry, persistence on uphills, and speed on downhills won our hearts.—
The Editors,
Outside Online,
26 June 2025
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Men’s downhill: Odermatt (605 points) leads countryman Franjo von Allmen by 83 points.—
Rachel Roberts,
Idaho Statesman,
20 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Descent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descent. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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