DESCENT Synonyms: 262 Similar and Opposite Words

descent

noun

di-ˈsent

Definition of descent

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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Relevance

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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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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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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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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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as in assault

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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as in ancestry

the line of ancestors from whom a person is descended a person of Finnish descent

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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 show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of descent The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 can guide you through safe ascent and descent speeds while diving, but this functionality relies on features expected to roll out in the third-party Mares app later this year. — Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 10 Aug. 2026 The Luna sample return missions consisted of a lander equipped with a descent stage, ascent stage and Earth return capsule. — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 9 Aug. 2026 The Italian supreme court’s abolition of 2024 restrictions on citizenship by descent means American families who’d been torn apart by the new legislation can now be reunited. — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026 In the guest book, in 2024, a guest creatively wrote a six-entry (three days and three nights) account of their stay there, a descent into madness at the hands of the structure’s steady creaking and the sounds of twigs snapping in the woods below. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for descent

Recent Examples of Synonyms for descent

Noun

Unlike other meat products, the cost of chicken has seen little fluctuation in recent months, so much so that July’s 3-cent drop signaled the single biggest monthly change dating back to November 2024.

— Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
The critic who found a helpful narrative to understand the history, and future, of our images, without a drop of cynicism.

— Carlos Valladares, ARTnews.com, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of drop

Noun

Hillsborough had come to embody all that was wrong with Sheffield Wednesday in recent times, a symbol of underinvestment and deterioration.

— Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
Initially, Cao assumed that the deterioration of particular proteins and protein networks was responsible for aging, in line with the prevailing model.

— Ingrid Wickelgren, Quanta Magazine, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of deterioration

Noun

Many lines of research align with the theory that aging is a direct result of decay — the inevitable degradation of molecules (including proteins or DNA), organelles, cells, or whole organs — from external assault or inexorable breakdown.

— Ingrid Wickelgren, Quanta Magazine, 14 Aug. 2026
By spreading stress via polymer chain rearrangement instead of allowing polymer bonds to break, the DNGEs continually reduce the risk of sudden snapping or fatigue-degradation.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of degradation

Noun

Over time, the same system that profited from his brilliance proved indifferent to his vulnerability, and his life became reduced to a singular narrative of addiction and demise.

— Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 10 Aug. 2026
The Tribune played a key role in the demise of Nixon’s presidency.

— Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of demise

Noun

The attacks on about 20 Wildberries facilities have underlined Kyiv’s ability to strike far and wide inside Russia and posed a new challenge to President Vladimir Putin nearly 4½ years into his full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

— ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
However, Meta's smart glasses are under heavy criticism as many see them as a step too far and an invasion of privacy.

— Jon Martindale, PC Magazine, 17 Aug. 2026