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
Balmain, the legacy fashion label led by Olivier Rousteing, who was raised in France and is of East African descent, has explored his cultural backgrounds in recent seasons.
—
Julian Randall, Essence, 6 Mar. 2025
The crew will transfer to the waiting Starship for the descent to the lunar surface.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2025
The hourlong descent appeared to go well until the final approach when the laser navigation system began acting up.
—Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2025
The girl’s father confronted Thompson, who then locked himself in the lavatory with his iPhone for three to five minutes before the flight’s descent, according to the criminal complaint.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for descent
Julian Randall, Essence, 6 Mar. 2025
The crew will transfer to the waiting Starship for the descent to the lunar surface.
—William Harwood, CBS News, 6 Mar. 2025
The hourlong descent appeared to go well until the final approach when the laser navigation system began acting up.
—Marcia Dunn, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2025
The girl’s father confronted Thompson, who then locked himself in the lavatory with his iPhone for three to five minutes before the flight’s descent, according to the criminal complaint.
—Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 6 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for descent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for descent
Noun
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And the rest of the presidential administration has been eager to back up his claims, with White House senior counselor Peter Navarro saying that Trump’s policies caused the price drop.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN,
13 Mar. 2025
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Visitors can admire its thunderous drop from various aerial viewpoints or take a walk along the valley floor for a different perspective.—
David Nikel,
Forbes,
13 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Roads and bridges are designed with strict weight limits for a reason: excessive loads accelerate structural deterioration, leading to costly repairs and safety hazards.—
Ydanis Rodriguez,
New York Daily News,
9 Mar. 2025
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In addition to this, using excessive water or harsh chemical cleaners can then lead to moisture accumulation around window seals, which can potentially cause mould growth or deterioration of the frame around the windows.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
8 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Service degradation caused in some attacks has lasted multiple days, with some remaining ongoing as of the time this post went live.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
6 Mar. 2025
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Bristol Myers Squibb is leveraging AI and machine learning to advance protein degradation science.—
Tina Chakrabarty,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Given the important roles and responsibilities of nonprofit boards, the pressures that are exerted on them, and the failure of some boards to meet those challenges, some community leaders have advocated for their demise in favor of a different approach.—
Timothy J. McClimon,
Forbes,
5 Mar. 2025
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Both brothers are quickly brought up to speed, though, when they’re made co-CEOs of the underground operation to fill the power vacuum left by Baba’s demise.—
Angie Han,
The Hollywood Reporter,
5 Mar. 2025
Noun
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If the figure is confirmed, the aerial attacks would represent one of the largest on Russia since its invasion of Ukraine, and a clear attempt to show strength on the part of Kyiv.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN,
11 Mar. 2025
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The announcements came as senior officials from Ukraine and the U.S. began talks in Saudi Arabia on ending Moscow's three-year war against Kyiv, just hours after Russia downed over 300 Ukrainian drones—Ukraine's largest attack since the Kremlin's full-scale invasion.—
Faisal Kutty,
Newsweek,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Phil Blair, Manpower YES: The current administration’s erratic behavior, both in DOGE attacks on federal agencies and executive orders, have made the business community very nervous.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
13 Mar. 2025
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Prior to his election, Vance was explicit in his concerns that US support for Ukraine could hinder its ability to aid Taiwan in the event of a Chinese attack.—
Wayne Chang,
CNN,
13 Mar. 2025
Noun
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These individuals appear to have merged with larger populations that were unrelated to the Xiongnu, many of them with European ancestry, forming a group with genetically diverse backgrounds, according to the study.—
Sonja Anderson,
Smithsonian Magazine,
3 Mar. 2025
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Certain genetic variants, or mutations, are often linked to ancestry, and some have been connected to poor health outcomes.—
Leah Small,
Scientific American,
24 Feb. 2025
Noun
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In winter, Engelberg’s ski area offers 50 miles of ski slopes, with traditional downhill skiing as well as ski touring, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and plenty of off-piste adventures.—
Alexandra Cheney,
Travel + Leisure,
9 Mar. 2025
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Sled runs may be crossed by downhill ski traffic at times and are often used by winter hikers and snowshoers, too.—
Terry Ward,
CNN,
23 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Descent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/descent. Accessed 22 Mar. 2025.
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